To want chuck David Cameron in the next flood?

[Nocomet]

Quote from BBC news >Prime Minister David Cameron said the government could afford to pay for the road repairs because of savings already made.

"It's because of the difficult decisions we have made on public spending that we can afford to repair roads damaged by the severe weather as part of our long-term economic plan to secure Britain's future and help *hardworking people," he said.<

If they didn't keep cutting local council and highways funding , maybe our fucking roads would be properly maintained, instead of a patchwork of botched pothole filling they wouldn't fall apart everytime it freezes or rains.

*bingo

[deadduck]

YADNBU

[EdithWeston]

The floods would have trashed even beautifully maintained roads. There was always going to be an extra bill after an inundation (and it looks as if the Govt will be able to divert money for it). Bit forked tongue though, to be making economic points all the time. We don't know what state the economy would be in if there were a different Government (and still don't really know enough about Opposition plans should they win next time, and a the election is getting closer, it really is time they were more specific).

Isn't it a local, not central, Government responsibility to maintain roads (routinely, that is, not in aftermath of natural disaster)?

[Nocomet]

Round here it is both highways agency (motorway and some A roads) and our useless local council's job.

Yes I'm certain the floods and rain would have damaged some nice new roads, but round here it's all the usual offenders that are falling apart.

All the bits that look like a wartime dress advertising make do and mend are developing holes again.

No it's not totally central governments fault, our neighbouring counties roads are vastly better, but central government ought to have a strategy for maintains the countries infrastructure at a national level.

[EdithWeston]

Thanks nocomet - it's often not terribly clear who is responsible for what.

Despite the irritating points scoring in the announcement (but as election campaigns are looming I suppose we'll have to put up with a lot of that), I hope the upshot is a good standard of road surface.

[Melonbreath]

Yanbu. He's a dick.

[Nocomet]

Hopefully they might be a bit better, for five minutes.

However, what we need is a 5,10,15 year plan to raise one bit of local road above the river and massively improve road and farm drainage to stop all our minor roads getting in such a state.

No government or local council is ever going to think that long term.