Spare road network from looming spending cuts, public tell LGA

22 October 2009

The public do not want local roads to be hit by looming spending cuts, according to a new survey.

Just 5% of respondents to the Local Government Association (LGA) poll said local roads and street maintenance and cleaning should be one of three council services cut to save money elsewhere.

However, only 6% said local roads should be protected from public spending cuts. This compared with 33% for hospital staff and 32% for the fire service and police.

The survey also revealed strong support for waste collection and disposal, with 22% of 2,053 respondents calling for spending to be protected and only 3% backing cuts. Some 14% said spending on concessionary bus travel should be cut, and only 8% said it should be protected. Elsewhere, two-thirds of respondents (65%) wanted local councillors to make decisions about cuts in their area, as opposed to politicians (11%).

Cllr Margaret Eaton, chair of the LGA, described the figures as a ‘vote of confidence in town halls’. ‘It is almost universally accepted that public spending is going to have to be cut in coming years. Whether it is care for the elderly, schools or rubbish collections, people are concerned that the standard of the services they use remains high,’ she said. ‘People trust their local councillors to make tough decisions about spending more than they trust national politicians.’

On the results showing public opposition to spending cuts on local roads, Alison Quant, president of the CSS (County Surveyors’ Society), said: ‘I have given similar messages to the Department for Transport and LGA.’

Register now for full access

Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.

Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors. Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.

Already a registered? Login