29 Jan 2010

The RAC Foundation has welcomed news that Glasgow City Council is trebling its roads spending because of the pothole damage caused by the cold weather. Similarly, Edinburgh City Council is spending five times as much as expected (nearly £1m) between January and March dealing with the problem.

Professor Stephen Glaister, the Foundation's director, said:

“It seems as if Glasgow and Edinburgh councils have seen the writing on the wall, recognizing that if they don’t act now there will only be a much bigger bill to pay some time in the future

"Now the gauntlet has been thrown down to other authorities who are hesitating on committing more money to the maintenance budget. If more councils don’t follow suit then drivers will demand to know why. Roads have to be regarded as a vital national asset and treated as such when it comes to funding.”