£25m for Welsh roads repairs must not detract from need for long term strategic investment, says Logistics UK

The £25 million announced to repair roads across Wales does not represent the longer-term strategy and funding model needed to reinforce the UK's transport infrastructure, according to business group Logistics UK. Speaking after the announcement, the organisation's Policy Manager for Wales Josh Fenton explained:   

“Potholes cost the UK’s economy over £14.4 billion(1) a year, largely because of longer journey times as drivers attempt to limit damage to their vehicles, so any additional funding to address this problem is welcome. However, rather than piecemeal allocations of funding that create a stop-start mentality and ongoing interruptions to the transport network through short-term repairs, a longer-term strategy and funding model is needed to enable long-term maintenance programmes to be put in place.   

“Our roads have fallen into such a state of disrepair as a result of this short-term attitude – it is essential that the new investment and repair programme is employed swiftly to stop problems getting worse, while longer term solutions can be found and implemented.”  

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.      

(1)CEBR – April 2024