One of the UK’s leading civil engineering associations has called for long-term funding for infrastructure following this morning’s announcement that the Government is to provide additional money to fix weather-damaged roads.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) represents over 300 contractors of all sizes, covering approximately 80% of the UK’s civil engineering sector.
Commenting, director of external affairs for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Alasdair Reisner said:
“In recent years CECA has argued that spending on highways maintenance plays an essential role in improving the state of the country’s vital roads network. Such spending also offers additional benefits by stimulating economic activity and employment in communities across the country.
“The government’s announcement of extra funding to help areas hit by extreme weather is welcome, but it is a drop in the ocean in terms of the investment that will be needed in coming years."
“If the UK is to rise to the challenge of achieving infrastructure security, government and industry must work together to ensure long term investment to weather-proof our roads network for the future.”
The Department of Transport has announced that an extra £140 million is to be made available to help repair the damage caused by the exceptionally severe weather of recent months.
Government support for flood-hit councils will increase by £36.5 million to a total of £80 million. On top of this, an extra £103.5 million is being made available to all councils across England, bringing the total government spending allocated to road maintenance in 2013 to more than £1 billion.
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