Fenland Roads Crumble: Council Seeks Urgent Government Aid

Cambridgeshire County Council is appealing to the central government for financial assistance to repair 'soil-affected' Fenland roads that are causing significant damage to vehicles. These roads, constructed on peat, incur repair costs four times higher than standard surfaces. Council chair Alex Beckett stated that full reconstruction is necessary and beyond the local authority's budget, necessitating national government intervention.

The condition of these roads, exacerbated by extreme weather patterns like drought, heatwaves, and floods, leads to buckling, cracking, and subsiding surfaces, creating hazardous driving conditions. Motorists and commercial drivers report severe impacts, including damage to vehicle components like tyres and alloy wheels, and even horseboxes. Some local roads are described as being on par with those in developing countries.

The council has secured £1.5m for a trial of innovative repair methods and an additional £5m since 2023 for repairs. However, they maintain that national support is crucial for sustainable solutions, a sentiment echoed by the Department for Transport which points to its £500m investment in local road maintenance over the past year.