Around one in every 100 miles of main road across Cornwall needs repairing
A survey has classified one percent of council-run A routes as 'red' meaning they need maintenance
Last updated 19th Nov 2021
Around one in every 100 miles of main road in Cornwall needs repairing, figures suggest.
The AA said England’s roads are stuck in a rut with motorists facing a “plethora of potholes” on their journeys.
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 1% of A roads in Cornwall were put in this worst category – unchanged from in 2019-20.
And 6% 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 scanner machines, which identify sections of road worn by use or affected by ruts, bumps or potholes. However, the DfT said a different method was used in Cornwall, which means the area should not be directly compared to others.
The DfT said the proportion of roads in the red category is “stable” following a slight increase during 2019-20, but there has been no change since 2015-16.
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: “While the Government claims road conditions are ‘stable’, the harsh reality is that they are stuck in a rut.
“Road users don’t have to travel too far from home to see a plethora of potholes, fractured tarmac, worn away surfaces and faded road markings which make driving and cycling uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst.”
The DfT figures suggest the smallest roads in England are in an even worse condition than classified ones, with one in every six miles in the "red" category.
In Cornwall, 4% of unclassified roads were in need of maintenance in 2020-21 – up from 3% a year previously.
The RAC said it is "hugely concerning" how many smaller roads are earmarked for maintenance, as unclassified roads in more rural areas tend to have worse safety records.
Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy, said: “We had hoped that the fact so few people were using the roads last year because of the pandemic would have given councils a golden opportunity to catch up on much-needed road repairs.
“Sadly, this data appears to show there’s still a huge amount to be done.
“Given the vast sums drivers pay in taxes every year, it’s only reasonable for them to expect all roads to be in a good condition.”
A DfT spokesman said: “The Government is investing over £5 billion in roads maintenance over this Parliament, enough to fill in millions of potholes a year, repair dozens of bridges, and help resurface roads up and down the country.”
In a statement, Cornwall Council said: "These figures show that Cornwall’s well-managed regime of maintenance is paying off and making the best use of our resources and targeting funding to where it is most needed has meant Cornwall’s main A roads continue to rank among the top 25% in the country.
"While we continue to have a challenge to bring B and C roads up to the same level, the Council is recognised for the effective use of Government funding in managing roads in Cornwall and is encouraged that the Government has now committed to a five-year investment plan for road condition.
"While prevention is a priority, the Council’s contractor Cormac continues to respond swiftly to pothole issues, repairing around 99% within timescales set out by the Council. Where the pothole is a significant hazard, it will be treated by the end of the next working day. In 2020 highways crews repaired around 62 potholes a day".
Potholes and other road defects can be reported here through Cornwall Council's dedicated website.