Scotland's Roads need urgent maintenance

A car warranty company has revealed that 23% of all claims by Scottish motorists in the last year were due to damage caused by potholes and poor road surfaces. That made Scotland the worst area in the UK, with an average of 350 claims a day. That percentage is twice as high as that for north-east England, East Anglia and north-west England. In the West Midlands, the figure fell to just 8%. Over many years, local authorities have just patched up road surfaces that are reported to be in a bad condition. But the "sticking plaster" approach means that the same bit of road often needs attention again within a couple of years. It has been estimated by the Society of Chief Officers for Transportation in Scotland that it would cost £1.5 billion to catch up on the backlog of repairs across Scotland. The government spending watchdog, Audit Scotland, recently suggested a figure of £2 billion "to provide Scotland with a roads network fit for the 21st century." Last year, the government allocated £458 million to local authorities to spend on transport, including roads, but there is no evidence that conditions are improving. This is partly because some local councils use the cash to fund other services as it is not "ring-fenced" for roads only.