Many local roads 'are falling apart'

THOUSANDS of miles of local roads are in urgent need of repair as councils face a cash crisis, according to a study published today.

The British Road Federation's Local Roads Report says that more than 4,000 miles of local authority A- roads need urgent and structural repair.

Their survey found that:

2,300 miles of local authority A-roads will wear out in the next four years;

Spending in real terms on road maintenance fell dramatically between 1987-88 and 1991-92;

Spending on structural maintenance in English metropolitan areas fell by nearly 30 per cent in that period;

571 bypasses await construction with 220 having later starting dates than was promised in 1991;

In 1993-94 local authorities sought clearance to spend pounds 1.8bn on their roads but only pounds 1.1bn was granted.

Richard Diment, BRF's director, said: 'Britain's local roads are falling apart and nearly 20 per cent of local authority A-roads need major repairs now.'

Local roads make up 95 per cent - 215,462 miles - of roads in Britain and carry 68 per cent of all traffic.

Between 1982 and 1992 traffic on such roads has risen by 34 per cent and by 54 per cent on local authority A-roads in rural areas.