LISTEN: Multi-million pound pothole pledge to help Glasgow drivers
Glasgow City Council's set to launch a £16million blitz on potholes, after officials doubled investment in the city’s roads and walkways.
Glasgow City Council's set to launch a £16million blitz on potholes, after officials doubled investment in the city’s roads and walkways.
Council leader Frank McAveety today revealed plans to pump an extra £8million into repairs – targeting at least 20,000 potholes:
The budget boost will also help resurface more than 200 residential streets and 50km of pavements – while carrying out enough permanent patch repairs to cover 23 football pitches.
Cllr McAveety said: "Glaswegians have every right to expect good roads and pavements – and I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to deliver the big investment required to match their expectations.
“We have already secured real improvements in the city centre and on some of our busiest routes across the city – but this additional cash will allow us to reach further into our communities and repair more residential streets than ever before.”
The council is usually allocated only a small amount of government revenue funding to maintain roads, pavements and lighting across the city.
However, over recent years, city leaders have used millions in capital investment to bolster the repair programme – and had already committed £8million to tackle defects in the current financial year.
Today’s fresh cash injection takes this year’s extra spending to £16million.
Cllr McAveety said: “Our investment in Glasgow’s roads is unprecedented in Scotland.
“That is good news for all road users – from drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to businesses that rely on Glasgow’s infrastructure, create jobs and drive our economy.”
Work to deliver the additional investment is already underway – and officers have carried out consultation with the public, community councils and elected members to prioritise projects across the city.
Engineers are also studying safety reports, public complaints and previous compensation claims, along with street-level reports from bus and taxi drivers, as they target areas where spending will have the maximum impact.
Cllr McAveety said: “When it comes to looking after our roads, early-intervention is crucial.
“By bringing forward more investment, we’ll get to more of these streets, quicker – and residents will be the winner.”
Earlier this year, Audit Scotland published a major report on the condition of Scotland’s roads, which revealed Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire councils deliver the highest level of spending for every kilometre of road at around £15,000 – more than five times the figure spent in some areas.
Audit Scotland ranked Glasgow among a minority of Scottish councils judged to be spending enough to maintain or improve the condition of their roads – and in the top ten for the percentage of its road network rated as being in an acceptable condition.
This performance reflects the success of a customer-focused investment strategy that favours first-time permanent repairs and a programme of early interventions designed to prevent roads deteriorating.
Nonetheless, the national report made the point that Glasgow’s roads still require further investment and this new money is, in part, a response to that.
Meanwhile, the number of people responding to the city’s annual household survey that say they are satisfied with roads maintenance is steadily increasing – while complaints from the public about potholes and compensation claims have fallen.