Members of the public are being asked to help cure Scotland’s pothole epidemic by telling Holyrood how to improve the country’s road network.
The Parliament’s connectivity committee has issued a call for views on roads maintenance in light of growing anger about conditions for drivers and businesses.
MSPs want to know if the current model for funding and delivering roads maintenance, which is split between central and local government, is “the most economic and efficient option”.
A poll of Scottish drivers by the AA last month found 85 per cent said potholes on local roads were causing problems.
Submissions to the committee will be fed into the Scottish budget process for 2020/21.
Convener Edward Mountain said: “The road network in Scotland is thousands of miles long and is the vital link in connecting communities and supporting both national and local economies.
“We want to hear from road users across Scotland, from large commercial transport operators, small local businesses, roads authorities, community groups and individuals so we can develop a deep understanding of how effectively Scotland’s roads are being maintained.”
The Government agency Transport Scotland is currently responsible for 2,237 miles (3,600km) of motorways and trunk roads, which make up 6% of the road network but carry a third of its traffic.
Councils are in charge of 15,907 miles (25,600km) of classified roads and 16,653 miles (6,800km) of unclassified roads.
Ministers allocated £833.1m for motorways and trunk roads in 2019/20, down from £967m in 2017/18.
Last year Audit Scotland reported only 64 per cent of councilmaintained roads were in an acceptable condition, following a 25% real-terms cut in spending over five years.
Around 86% of the trunk road network was acceptable.
The watchdog also found the public remained “significantly dissatisfied” with current road conditions, with 54% believing the problem with potholes is getting worse.
- READ MORE: My car went into a pothole big enough for me to take a bath in on a main road, says motorist
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “Clearly, Scottish roads are in desperate need of improvement. Not just to allow for smooth driving, but to protect vulnerable road users like motorcyclists and cyclists for whom potholes can be tragically fatal.
“Poor road surfaces can be a costly inconvenience for drivers in replacement tyres and wheels, as well as repairing suspension damage. While millions of pounds is paid out in compensation claims each year, it would be better for these funds to be ploughed directly back into the road network.
“Ultimately, only a largescale investment, backed by Holyrood, will get Scottish roads back to a good standard.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “In times of financial constraint we are making significant efforts to maximise every penny that is spent on maintenance.”
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