Anyone using the roads this year will have seen the impact of January’s extreme weather, with pothole reports in January alone exceeding the previous seven months combined.
This local picture reflects a growing national problem. The latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) report found that the cost of bringing roads in England and Wales back to a good standard has risen to £18.6 billion, up from £16.8 billion last year. In short, government funding for road repairs is not keeping pace with the rate of deterioration.
This winter’s weather has played a major role. Freezing temperatures and heavy rain caused cracks to open in road surfaces. Water seeps in, freezes, and as traffic passes over, the surface breaks apart—creating potholes.
Wokingham Borough Council’s highways inspectors are out every day, but with more than 500 miles of roads to monitor, support from residents is essential. Potholes can be reported online and reports will generally be inspected within 24 hours. The most serious reports will get a temporary ‘make-safe’ repair within 2 hours of inspection, which will be monitored and replaced as needed. Less serious issues which need repair happen within 24 hours or 28 days depending on the nature. In January and February alone this year, the council repaired 679 potholes.
The most effective way to reduce potholes is through regular maintenance which aims to stop water getting into the road. Every road in the borough is inspected throughout the year as part of a Highway Maintenance Management Plan. This data is used to create an annual programme of work, focusing on the roads most in need, while also considering funding limitations and the need to coordinate with other roadworks.
Different repair methods are used depending on the condition of the road.
For severely damaged roads, a process known as “plane and inlay” removes and replaces the top layer. This delivers high-quality, long-lasting results but comes at a high cost.
For roads in better structural condition, “surface dressing” is used. This involves patching damaged areas of the road and applying a layer of bitumen and stone chips to seal the entire surface. While less expensive, it is proven to be highly effective and allows the council to treat up to five times more roads for the same cost.
This year, the council will also introduce “retexturing” on selected roads to improve skid resistance.
Roads not included in the main programme will still be repaired as issues arise, with public reporting continuing to play a vital role.
A recent Department for Transport report assessed Wokingham as one of only seven local authorities rated among the top performers for both road condition and the use of best practice.
However, we are not complacent and, despite financial pressures, the council is increasing its investment in road maintenance. The coming year’s budget has risen by 8%, with further increases planned over the next three years, to seek to turn around this issue which we know is important to everyone.
To report an issue on the roads, go to Wokingham.gov.uk/roads/report, or for urgent safety issues by calling the council on 0118 974 6000. To find out more about highway maintenance go to Wokingham.gov.uk/resurfacing
By Cllr Adrian Betteridge
