Action call over crumbling roads

Council-run roads were surveyed in the 12 months to March 2021 and classed as "red" if they should be considered for maintenance.

Figures from the Department of Transport show one per cent of A roads in South Tyneside were put in this worst category – down from 2% in 2019-20 – and

three per cent of B and C roads were also in need of work.

The proportion of A roads in need of repair is among the lowest in England, where one in every 25 miles is in poor condition.

The examinations are largely done using scanning machines but a different method was used in South Tyneside – which means the area should not be directly compared to others.

A recent AA survey indicated that nine out of 10 drivers want the Government to heavily invest in fixing local roads.

The organisation’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, said: “Road users don’t have to travel too far to see potholes, fractured tarmac, worn surfaces and faded road markings which make driving and cycling uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst.”

Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy, said: “Given the vast sums drivers pay in taxes every year, it’s only reasonable for them to expect roads to be in a good condition.”

A DfT spokesman said: “The Government is investing over £5bn in roads maintenance over this Parliament, enough to fill in millions of potholes a year and help resurface roads up and down the country.”