Councils across Wales are preparing to exempt scores of roads from the new 20mph default speed limit in under a month’s time. The new lower limit is due to take affect on 17 September at a cost of about £26.7 Million to Welsh ratepayers but the legislation means the new lower limit has to come in first and then be rescinded and the current 30mph limit reapplied and roads resigned. This will add … [Read more...]
Potholes problems see more calls for RAC help
The poor condition of Britain’s local roads is laid bare today by new figures from the RAC which show its patrols went out to more than 8,100 pothole breakdowns between April and June 2023, the highest number in five years. Since the start of 2023, the RAC has dealt with 18,250 breakdowns for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels – the call-outs which are most … [Read more...]
Wales’ secondary roads are crumbling away
The local roads repair backlog tops £600 million in Wales, reports this year's ALARM survey. The backlog of carriageway repairs to local roads in Wales is now £640 million, compounded by increased costs caused by rising inaction, reports this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey. The ALARM survey, published today by the Asphalt Industry Alliance highlights the scale of the … [Read more...]
Long Covid-19 effects surprise
The introduction of new Covid-19 measures will have far reaching effects that may not initially spring to mind. For one, since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown measures, councils and local authorities up and down the land have worked diligently to tweak and amend Britain's road networks to prepare them for a new and more sustainable outlook. After the pledge of £2.5 billion … [Read more...]
Guidance for garages seeking rates relief
The Independent Garage Association has released guidance for members on how they can appeal business rate relief from their local council. Stuart James, IGA Chief Executive said,“We have spoken with many garages throughout the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic, and access to this rate relief makes a difference to the length of time their business can survive with reduced or no income, … [Read more...]
Councils ignoring car damage complaints
One in four people have damaged their car on either a speedhump or pothole, rising to almost one in three (30%) in urban areas. The Opinium research of over 2000 UK drivers, on behalf of InsuretheGap.com, found that over a quarter (26%), who have damaged their car on a speedhump or pothole, paid between £51 and £100 to fix it; a third (35%) paid between £101 and £250; and 8% said it cost more … [Read more...]
“Smog thinking” by councils will make emissions worse
Clean Air Zones are unfairly targeting hauliers and pricing trucks off the road and are not the way to reduce emissions, says a coalition of road transport trade bodies. The Road Haulage Association (RHA), British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA), Freight Transport Association (FTA) and National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), are concerned that local authorities are … [Read more...]