Bleak Future for Highways

3.53.35pm GMT Wed 11th Feb 2009

Highways are facing a bleak future with construction inflation costs at 12% and rising. The County Council Conservative administration has failed over the last few years to adequately fund road maintenance.

Cllr Roz Smith, Shadow Cabinet member for Transport, said, "The number of potholes and roads with uneven surfaces is increasing year on year. The maintenance regime will have to be adapted to deal with emergency events at any time of year - it will barely scratch the surface of non-emergency repairs."

The alternative Liberal Democrat budget had proposed an additional half-a-million pounds for road, pavement and cyclepath maintenance, as well as £200,000 for additional pedestrian crossings. This was paid for by reintroducing parking charges for on-street parking in Oxford City Centre in the evenings and on Sundays, to reduce congestion and encourage use of the free parking at the Park and Rides.