Nine years to tackle crumbling roads

Shropshire's crumbling roads are in such a poor state that it could take at least nine years to fix them, it was revealed today.

The Government is providing an emergency £1.8 million hand out to help patch weather-battered roads across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

But a county highways boss today said the money was a drop in the ocean and would not cure chronic problems affecting damaged roads.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation, today said: "The Government is taking a Band Aid to a much more acute problem.

"We're looking at a shortfall of between £4 million and £6 million every year. So, while we welcome any financial assistance, it is clearly not enough and will not help us to solve long term problems."

Council bosses have warned it will cost £72 million and take nine years to bring the West Midlands's roads, including Shropshire, up to scratch, according to new research.

Chancellor Alistair Darling this week pledged £100 million in his Budget to help mend potholes caused by Britain's freezing winter.

Of that, £9.2 million is destined for the West Midlands to be shared between the region's 14 local authorities. It includes £1.5 million for Shropshire and £278,400 for Telford & Wrekin.

But there are doubts over whether the grant will be enough given the scale of the problem faced by councils.

Councillor Taylor-Smith added: "Last year we spent £800,000 and we have allocated around £900,000 for the coming year. That is not enough.

"We are repairing things rather than replacing them for the long term. Average roads should last for about 40 years but, because they are not properly maintained, they are not lasting."

According to a survey published this week by Alarm (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance), based on research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, the problems caused by the big freeze come on top of already under-funded council road maintenance budgets.

It shows the average cost of filling a pothole in the West Midlands is £99 but the cash injection is only a fraction of the money needed to bring the region's 19,813-miles stretch of roads up to standard.