Why are Fenland roads particularly prone to damage?

Fenland roads are built on peat soil, which expands and contracts significantly with weather changes, causing buckling and cracking.

What is Cambridgeshire County Council asking the central government for?

The council is requesting financial assistance and funding for long-term solutions to repair the severely damaged soil-affected roads.

How much more does it cost to repair Fenland's soil-affected roads?

Repairing these peat-based roads costs approximately four times more than fixing standard road surfaces.

Home / Business and Economy / Fenland Roads Crumble: Council Seeks Urgent Government Aid

Fenland Roads Crumble: Council Seeks Urgent Government Aid

28 Dec

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Summary

Soil-affected roads cost four times more to repair.
Extreme weather exacerbates buckling and cracking of peat-based roads.
Council calls for national funding to address severe road damage.

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.