Council and democracy

5. Dealing with worn out roads and pavements

Hertfordshire’s roads and pavements experience high levels of usage in comparison to other areas. The Council has a duty to ensure that residents have a well-maintained road network.

Public surveys consistently show that residents are concerned over the condition of Hertfordshire’s roads and pavements. For older people injuries, or indeed the fear of injuries, can lead to a loss of independence. Best Value Performance Indicator results show that high volumes of traffic on Hertfordshire’s roads cause significant wear and tear and make it harder to maintain the road network to acceptable standards.

The current rate of investment is not enough to halt the deterioration of roads and pavements and the latest predictions show a continuing and significant fall in the asset value of the highway network. Overcoming this challenge is therefore about securing external funding, as set out in our Local
Transport Plan targets.