Gap between road taxation and road spending must be cut

The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has called on the government to close the gap between the UK’s high vehicle taxation and the actual amount spent each year on road maintenance.

It comes after research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance revealed that fuel duty and vehicle excise duty raised £31.5bn in 2009 yet road spending was only £9.9bn.

Howard Robinson, chief executive of RSTA, says: “The government needs to address the substantial gap between the heavy taxation levied on motorists and the poor state of the road network.

“Some £10bn is necessary to address the backlog of repairs and potholes which, following the recent severe winters and lack of adequate maintenance investment, is estimated to number over two million.”

 In September councillors demanded more funds to repair roads damaged by winter weather.