December 20, 2024
The Department for Transport has today announced further details of funding to fix potholes across England. Local authorities will be allocated a share of around £1.6billion funding to be used to repair the roads most need of repair, with amounts of up to £500million expected to be awarded. The Government is also requiring local authorities to collect the correct data on pothole related issues and to improve maintenance before potholes start to form. This is in line with calls from the Pothole Partnership which demanded more transparency, plus better reporting and standards as part of the solution to roads maintenance issues. The funding also has built-in incentives, with 25% of this uplift held back until authorities have shown that they are delivering.
Additionally, the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is announcing a clampdown on disruptive street works, doubling Fixed Penalty Notices for utility companies who fail to comply with rules and extending charges for street works that run into the weekend.
While strongly welcoming this significant uplift in roads maintenance investment, which if delivered as intended will help improve safety for motorcyclists and cyclists, the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) feels that the Government needs to go much further on motorcycle safety, considering all measures which will reduce rider vulnerability with an open mind, as part of the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy.
NMC Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “Clearly, the NMC, along with other members of the Pothole Partnership, very much welcome today’s announcement, particularly if this leads to improved maintenance standards and permanent pothole repairs. However, we are looking to the Government to build on this, with a commitment to look more positively on how roads infrastructure initiatives, such as access to priority measures, plus other areas of safety, can be of benefit - looking again at research into matters such as junction design, engineering guidelines, bus lanes, signage, visibility issues, advanced training and emerging technologies. We also seek an urgent review into motorcycle licence testing and training.”
The NMC is also calling on the Government to refresh the 2005 Government Motorcycling Strategy as part of the forthcoming Integrated Transport Strategy. The Government has launched a consultation on this, via a ‘Call for Ideas’ , which specifically seeks the views of motorcyclists. The NMC is urging all riders to take part and answer the questionnaire on the consultation website. NMC member organisations are also asking their own members to respond.
The NMC document ‘Motorcycling and the Future of Transport’ covers the key policies which are needed for motorcycling and a summary can be downloaded from the NMC website here, with a more detailed version available here.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. For further comment from the NMC please contact Craig Carey-Clinch, on 07979 757484 | craig@uknmc.org
(Pic - Copyright NMC)
