East Sussex faces a growing challenge: overloaded road networks due to a surge in traffic. Increased population from new executive housing strains the capacity of narrow A and B roads initially designed for smaller villages. This problem is exacerbated by climate change concerns, as these new houses often have larger carbon footprints than sustainable alternatives. Additionally, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds collected from new developments are not being used to adequately improve existing road infrastructure.

Is it just Council thinking, focused on enhanced pensions in the shorter term, and golden handshakes for keeping quiet about their in-house corruption, the waste of public money on illegal vendettas, awarding of contracts (procurement fraud) for backhanders and the like. And of course the Council Tax scandal, where councils refuse to answer questions about how they are spending your money - the very basis of contract law (a service contract) is a clear written contract. 

In the case of councils there is an almost complete lack of transparency and obfuscation, despite the Consumer Protection Act 2015, and Human Rights Act 1998. Why would any corporation stoop to such tactics, unless the explanations are incriminating. They are! The reason for disguising where the money is going to is to avoid the detection of crimes.

Whatever the reason, it is plain common sense that if you have narrow 'A' and 'B' roads designed to support villages, and then build small towns, or extra villages in between to obtain more taxes, those poor little tarmac highways are going to have to carry a lot more vehicles than before - be overloaded and the structure disintegrate a lot faster than the money coming into the system can cope with repairs. This is called an "unsustainable" practice, the same as not building low cost housing. It leads to more costs in the long run, without any more taxes coming in to fill that gap.

One way of reducing expenditure is to sack negligent council officers, and reduce staff to a more efficient number. Perhaps by introducing time-and-motion studies as in factories. Another way is to reduce the number of councillors and MPs, who do very little when decisions are all delegated to officers. In our experience, councillors are advised by officers not to respond to correspondence by their officers. So what purpose do they serve? They just cost the taxpayer more. We might also consider Artificial Intelligence (AI) when it comes to planning applications, with Central Government taking over from under performing local authorities.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) taxes are supposed to be spent improving the highways that link up the new builds, put in lighting, etc. But as you can see for yourselves there has been no such improvement in the link roads. To the contrary, the roads continue to suffer deterioration, with more potholes.

A pothole in Church Road, Herstmonceux, in a very dangerous location, when turning left onto the A271, heading towards the village.

STOPPING ROAD OVERLOAD IN EAST SUSSEX: THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND & OTHER REGIONS

THE PROBLEM:

The rapid rise in executive housing developments in East Sussex is straining existing road infrastructure. Narrow A and B roads, designed for smaller villages, are now overwhelmed by increased traffic from cars, vans, and buses. This mismatch between infrastructure and development creates potholes, congestion, and safety hazards.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

Traffic Surge: The growing population brought on by new housing developments overwhelms existing roads.
Unsustainable Development: The focus on luxury housing with large footprints disregards climate change concerns and promotes car dependence.

Misdirected Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): Funds collected from developers aren't being used to improve the road network, leaving existing infrastructure to bear the brunt of increased traffic.

SOLUTIONS - TRAFFIC NEUTRALITY:

1. Sustainable Development:

Prioritize Net-Zero Homes which do not contribute to increased road usage. Encourage the construction of smaller, energy-efficient homes with lower carbon footprints aimed at containing global warming, which is an accelerator of road degradation.

Try to create walkable Communities. Make it a requirement of new developments that they are designed with walkable and bikeable layouts, reducing short-distance car trips. In the alternative, promote the use of small electric vehicles, preferably powered by renewable green hydrogen. This includes electric cycles and electric tricycles (rickshaws) that can carry shopping.

Only allow new development where those housing estates might tie into major roads that are capable of carrying an increase of traffic. Or only allow new development that is sited such as to be able to tie into existing major highways, or planned new highways, dual carriageways and motorways, that tie into major roads with extra capacity. Meaning that all new development is traffic neutral.

2. Infrastructure Improvement:

Targeted Use of CIL Funds, should ensure that funds collected from developers are used specifically for road improvements, including widening lanes, adding shoulders, and improving intersections in existing A and B roads. It should be a prohibition that CIL funds are used for other purposes. The incoming Labour party may want to make this law as quickly as possible.

Strategic Road Planning should include conducting thorough traffic flow studies before approving new developments, to ensure traffic neutrality. The implementation of new roads would only be if absolutely necessary and designed with sustainability in mind (e.g., dedicated bus lanes, bike paths). After all other avenues had been explored, with a view to protecting existing roads that cannot be widened or bypassed to avoid accelerated degradation.

The Maintenance and Repair of roads from Road Taxes, should allocate sufficient budgets for regular road maintenance to prevent potholes and ensure road safety. Council's in receipt of such monies must be fully accountable for such expenditure and works, with separate banking accounts dedicated to road repair works - to prevent misappropriation of funds.

3. Housing Development Approval Process:

Road Impact Assessments should be required of developers as part of any planning application. Making is law to submit detailed traffic impact assessments with their planning applications.

To ensure reasonable accuracy of such Assessments, there should be Independent Review, established as an independent body to review initial assessments and ensure new developments will not overload existing road infrastructure. To include contrasting against other Local Plans, in other areas outside the geographical control of local authorities. by way of ensuring balanced and sustainable development across the South East, and not cause congestion blockages, in for example; East Sussex.

Community Inputs should be encouraged as public participation in the planning process. So allowing local residents to voice concerns about traffic congestion before new developments are approved. Being potholes and a lack of any genuine maintenance, together with traffic counts, to be sure that existing road capacity is not exceeded.

INCREASED BUS TRAFFIC AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENT

Increased bus traffic, even if it alleviates car congestion, can contribute to road wear and tear. More conventional buses will inevitably lead to more wear and tear on roads as higher tyre loads. Replacing HGV (based) buses with smaller community buses with lower axle weight can reduce the impact compared to the increased number of cars for the same passenger load. Provided that drivers can be persuaded that buses are a viable alternative to the convenience of personal cars. Which, is a doubtful, or even a fanciful proposition at best! Because people like their independence. And of course, there are many smaller cars that are lighter. Hence, gas/diesel guzzling 4x4 SUVs should be road taxed off the highways.

The Challenge of Increased Bus Traffic:

Road Deterioration:

More frequent and heavier buses will inevitably lead to faster road degradation. While buses are generally better for the environment than individual cars, their weight can put a strain on road surfaces.

Even if all CIL funds go towards road repairs this year, increased traffic next year might necessitate further repairs, creating a cycle of constant maintenance using limited funds - in any circular economy. I.e. one that is balanced and sustainable. Simply because we cannot go on building more and more houses, on a diminishing supply of land.

Concerns about councils prioritizing pension investments over infrastructure improvements is extremely pertinent. Transparency and accountability are crucial to ensure CIL funds are used effectively for long-term infrastructure needs, rather than pursuing council priorities that are not focused on providing an effective remedy.

Addressing the Issues:

Sustainable Infrastructure Investment: Invest in road construction materials and techniques that are more durable and require less frequent maintenance.

- Public-Private Partnerships: Explore public-private partnerships where private companies invest in road infrastructure in exchange for future revenue streams (e.g., tolls on specific routes).

- Congestion Pricing: It has been muted to consider implementing congestion pricing schemes where truck drivers pay a fee to enter congested village areas, except where delivering locally. Though, building bypasses as alternative routes is a better means to relieve traffic blockages in village high streets. Additional taxes in an already overtaxed and inefficient economy being seen as counter productive.

- Expanding bus routes: Increase frequency and accessibility of bus services, especially connecting newly developed areas to existing infrastructure.

- Autonomous zero emission mini-buses and taxis is another way of improving transport, provided that the roads are properly maintained, without potholes that driverless vehicles may not see as well as human drivers, unless, specifically equipped with sensors to detect below ground hollows.

Bus Improvements Explore Options Like:

Electric Buses: Transition to electric buses to reduce noise pollution and environmental impact.

Dedicated Bus Lanes: Create dedicated bus lanes to improve bus travel times and reduce wear and tear caused by stop-and-go traffic. Only practical in towns and cities. In villages, there is no room for additional lanes.

Park & Ride Systems: Develop Park & Ride systems where people can park their cars outside city centers and take buses for the final leg of their journey. Once again, useless for villages being engulfed in traffic from new housing developments that should never have been approved in the first place.

Addressing the "Stashing Away" of Funds: Transparency and Accountability:

Local councils need to be transparent about how they allocate CIL funds. Residents should be able to access information on how much is collected and how it's being spent on infrastructure improvements.

Where transparency is an issue, it should be the right of any citizen to report suspected fraud to an outside police force. For example, in Sussex, Sussex police should be prohibited from having any part of an independent investigation by an outside force. The last time serious planning crimes were reported to Sussex police, they failed to mount any kind of investigation. Going so far as to give Wealden's officers a blank sheet of police headed paper, for Wealden's officers to write their own letter of exoneration. This included the officers who were accused of crimes, including the illegal demolition of the Bushy Wood animal sanctuary in 1997. Against which the criminal complaints were buried, no investigation taking place, even though Sussex police (or the author of the letter of exoneration) suggested it had. It was a fix to protect the officers acting illegally from being prosecuted. Commonly called a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Outright fraud, and massive misconduct in public office worse that R v Dytham 1979 QB 722.

One can imagine from this document example of corruption, just how much more public money is being used for nefarious purposes.

Public pressure from communities can be a powerful tool. Organize residents' groups and hold local councils accountable for their infrastructure spending priorities. Or, lack thereof.

The national government should play a role by setting stricter guidelines on how CIL funds are used, ensuring they are directed towards infrastructure improvements. These interventions, preferably via dedicated "Anti Pothole" statute, such as a proposed: "Pothole and Road Maintenance Act 2025." Should direct what proportion of CIL and Road Fund Licences, go to the build of new roads, and improvements to existing roads where housing development is causing strain to an overburdened infrastructure. All such funds going to highways and infrastructure. Not to investments, pension plans, and the like.

Aligning with UN's Circular Economy:

The UN's circular economy principles, Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) aim to minimize waste and maximize resource use. Here's how they can be applied:

1. Road Material Reuse: Explore ways to reuse existing road materials during repairs, reducing the need for virgin resources.

2. Sustainable Bus Procurement: When purchasing new buses, prioritize energy-efficient models, where possible made with recycled materials. Giving priority to electric and fuel cell, or green methanol powered vehicles that are tailored in passenger capacity to the route being operated.

3. Life Cycle Cost Analysis: Conduct life cycle cost analyses for infrastructure projects to ensure long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSION:

The situation described highlights the complex challenges of managing infrastructure growth - with care and in good faith. While increased bus traffic may be seen as a potential solution, mitigating strategies are necessary to ensure long-term sustainability. By combining sustainable practices, transparent use of funds, and community pressure, it's possible to break the cycle of increasing potholes and build a more resilient road network for East Sussex and the South Coast region. Of course, this affects the whole on England and Wales, if their councils are allowed to continue as before: unchecked and unregulated.

THE TELEGRAPH 29 JUNE 2024 - BRITAIN'S POTHOLE PROBLEM 'FIVE TIMES WORSE THAN ESTIMATED'

Britain’s roads are riddled with 11.5 million potholes, that is five times higher than previous estimates, according to a campaigner using data from a new AI dashboard app.

Data gathered by Stan the App, a mobile phone app that uses AI technology to detect and classify potholes, suggests that the true state of Britain’s roads is far worse than previously thought.

Mark Morrell, a veteran anti-pothole campaigner who styles himself as Mr Pothole, said data from Stan the App suggests there are 11.5 million potholes on the UK’s roads.

The news comes after the Asphalt Industry Alliance revealed in March that bringing all of Britain’s roads back up to good condition will cost £16.3 billion, a record high.

CEBR, the economics consultancy, said in April that potholes are costing the economy £14.4 billion a year in lost productivity.

The RAC, the British automotive services company, estimates that there are around 1 million potholes on the nation’s roads at any given moment, while about 2.2 million were repaired in 2023 alone.

Yet, footage collected from Stan the App’s 7,000 users has shown there are 1.5 million defects across just 13 per cent of the UK’s roads that it has mapped to date.

Mr Morrell said this shed fresh light on politicians’ promises to fix Britain’s crumbling highways.

“Finally, AI via Stan the App reflects the true awful condition of our roads,” he said.

“This app gives power to the public to survey the roads they use. I am not surprised by the 11.5 million potholes and defects on existing carriageways. I have been warning about this situation over my 11 years of campaigning.”

“Until the Government and the authorities face up to the massive challenge of resurfacing our roads, it will end up costing more and more.

If nothing is done to reverse the current situation, Mr Morrell claims that in fifteen years from now, more than half of Britain’s roads will have become “structurally unsound”.

The Conservatives pledged to hand £8 billion from the cancellation of HS2 into local councils’ coffers for road repairs, while Labour has said it will fund those same councils to repair a million road craters every year.

Stan the App uses AI technology to analyse video footage captured by ordinary drivers’ mobile phones.

SMART VISION

Mike Mockford, a spokesman for Metricell, the company behind Stan the App, explained how the free-to-use software works.

“Smart vision is the ability for mobile phones to detect any object,” he said.

The app uses machine learning technology to detect potholes in footage of roads captured by motorists as they drive around the country on their everyday journeys.

“We’ve mapped out 12 per cent of the entire UK,” Mr Mockford said, a figure that has since risen to 13 per cent as more motorists install the app.

Stan the App has so far captured footage of around 45,000 kilometres of highways, ranging from major motorways to quiet B-roads.

As well as simply detecting potholes, the app can also say how wide and deep they are – an important consideration when some councils refuse to fill potholes which are below a certain size.

THE ANSWER TO POTHOLE WOES

Motoring organisations, which have campaigned to improve British roads, welcomed the findings.

Rod Dennis, the RAC’s senior policy officer, said: “Drivers who are sick and tired of negotiating roads peppered with potholes know only too well how bad the problem across the country is – but up until now, there’s been little hard data to back that up.

“That’s all changing with Metricell’s excellent Stan app as for the first time we can see which roads are worst, as well as the local authorities that are doing a better job looking after them.

“What we need now is for the incoming government to address the problem head on.

“As well as more cash for councils, the answer to Britain’s pothole woes is to take preventative steps to extend the life of the roads under their control by surface dressing them to stop potholes forming in the first place.”

WORK IS UNDERWAY

A spokesman from the Department for Transport said it did not recognise the figures, adding that the Government does not collect data on the number of potholes across England.

Claire Holland, the transport spokesperson for the local government association, said: “Councils already invite road users to report highways defects and any new ways that support this and make this easier is helpful.

“Whilst this information will help councils in their planning of road repairs, limited resources and a £16.3 billion backlog of repairs mean councils will need to continue to prioritise according to local circumstances, and want to focus on preventive measures where they can.

“Longer-term, whoever forms the next government should award council Highways Departments with five yearly funding allocations to give more certainty, bringing councils on a par with National Highways so they can develop resurfacing programmes and other highways improvements, tackling the scourge of potholes.”

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “The motorways and major A roads we are responsible for represent around 3 per cent of all roads in England. Our most recent assessment shows that over 96 per cent of them are in good condition. [Bullshit. Any driver in the UK can tell you that assessment is utter nonsense.]

“We undertake road condition surveys across our entire network every year and the results are used to identify resurfacing requirements. These defects are categorised and we aim to repair the most serious ones within 24 hours.”

RAC 19 MARCH 2024 - ROADS IN THE UK ARE AT BREAKING POINT AT REPAIR BILLS HIT RECORD HIGH

Roads in England and Wales are at ‘breaking point’ according to the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) due to potholes.
The AIA Alarm Survey has found that more than half of the local road network in England and Wales could fail in the next 15 years as the amount needed to fix the backlog of repairs reaches a record high of £16.3 billion.

Further analysis of the data found that local authorities are expected to fix more than two million potholes in the current financial year.

This is an increase of 43% compared to the previous 12 months.

It is also the highest total since 2015-16 – where around 2.2 million potholes were fixed in England and Wales.

Currently, only 47% of local roads are in ‘good structural condition’ and over 107,000 miles of local roads have less than 15 years’ structural life left in them.

Rick Green, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, which commissions the ALARM survey, said: “Local authorities have a bit more money to spend this year but the impact of rising costs due to inflation means they have actually been able to do less with it.

“Couple this with the effects of the extreme weather we are increasingly facing, and the result is that the rate at which local roads are suffering is accelerating towards breaking point.

“There’s still a mountain to climb when it comes to fixing our local roads and while it’s great that English local authorities should be getting more money from the Government through its Network North funding, it’s clearly not going to be enough to halt the decline.”

Green continued: “The Transport Secretary (Mark Harper, appointed Secretary of State for Transport on 25 October 2022, elected Conservative MP for the Forest of Dean in May 2005. Previously serving as Chief Whip [Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury] from May 2015 until 14 July 2016 and Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform from May 2010 until September 2012. He served as Minister for Immigration from September 2012 until February 2014 and as Minister for Disabled People from July 2014 until May 2015. What qualifications does he have to be Trasport Secretary, other than just political musical chairs?) was quoted as saying that the additional £8.3 billion over 11 years is enough to resurface 5,000 miles of local roads. This sounds like a lot, but not when you consider that there are already more than 34,000 miles identified as structurally poor, with less than five years’ life remaining.

“We need to get to the point where local authority highway engineers can plan and proactively carry out repairs and preventative works in the most timely and efficient way to the greatest benefit of all road users – rather than just having enough money to address immediate and urgent needs.”

Following the release of the report, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The findings from this report send the clearest signal yet to the Government of the critical state of so many of the roads used by millions every day.

“By the Government’s own admission, the extra £8.3bn from the cancelled parts of HS2 is only sufficient to resurface around 5,000 miles of road, which is sadly just 3% of all council-mismanaged roads in England. With this report showing an estimated 107,000 miles of roads are fast reaching the end of their lives, the scale of the problem now facing councils is truly gargantuan.

“The fact government data shows road maintenance is actually declining at a time when the precise opposite is needed, is even further evidence that councils don’t have the funding they need to look after these most important assets.

“The status quo is not sustainable. The longer the Government fails to grasp this reality, the bigger the eventual cost to the public purse.

“Only a commitment to introducing ring-fenced roads funding for councils will get them out of this dire mess. Without it, our roads will only get worse.”

To help highways authorities understand where the problems on their networks are, the RAC has partnered with technology company Metricell which has developed a free mobile app that uses AI to automatically identify road defects via smartphone cameras.

After downloading the app, all users have to do is mount their phone safely in a cradle and set it to film the roads as they drive. The results are fed into a national map on the RAC and Stan websites showing the health status of the UK’s roads as either red, amber, or green. The app can also be used to submit photos of potholes and other surface defects.

BREACH OF CONTRACT

Transport is the life blood of any nation. According to our Government website, a modern road network helps traffic move around the country more easily and is essential for economic growth. The present Conservative Government claim to have set out a long-term funding programme to create smooth, smart and sustainable roads. They say that their aim is to ensure that highways work is properly managed.

The Conservatives are saying one thing and doing another. The proof is in the pudding. Take a drive around your area and count the potholes. Note where they are and watch motorists dance around trying to miss the really bad holes in our roads.

Why are we still being charged Road Tax, when it is clear that the Tory Government under Theresa May, Boris Johnson and now Rishi Sunack are not conducting themselves in a manner fit to continue running the country. We'd be better off with Laurel and Hardy.

Take a look at these pictures, and maybe take a few of your own - being careful not to stand in any roads or cause inconvenience to other road users. Why not write to your MP, or the shadow government. Ask for some explanation as to where all of our money is going. Do we really need more nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers? Or, do we need decent roads for our everyday journeys to work and for all of those delivery drivers trying to get goods moving around the country.

POLITICS - If the state of an economy can be measured by the condition of the country's roads, we and neck high in a slurry pit of cow pats. Of course that is true, as anyone looking at our National Debt can see. But how did it get so bad? Where has all our income tax gone? Where has our Road Fund License money gone? Who is taking our money and spending it on other things we do not need. Is our Government corrupt or simply inept?

FAST FORWARD TO 2023 - Hailsham is now much worse, with the bridge from the high street an absolute disgrace, and the roads leading to and from the roundabout below, literally, death (serious accident) traps waiting to happen. Why Sussex police are not prosecuting East Sussex County and Wealden District Councils, would be something of a mystery, except - and as you probably know, they are paid by Wealden - hence are not impartial. More the opposite, down right indebted to the corrupt civil servants that hide behind closed doors, and rape you financially for rates far in excess of what any honest council would charge. This is a picture taken in March 2023 on the A271 as you exit Herstmonceux village, down Death Hill, heading toward Suicide Junction on the right (Silver car).

THE OTHER SIDE - In case you did not know it, a rat-run is only popular because the road planners have got their sums wrong and not made the main roads well enough, or well planned enough to service local traffic. In this picture we see the other side of the give-way sign - and yes, sure enough there are potholes on the other side of the road. How come? Surely, East Sussex County Council have a schedule of works to repair holes like this as soon as they appear. You'd think so, but that would involve being efficient and spending money where it is supposed to be spent. Wealden are out borrowing money to buy land in Hailsham town centre - in the process asking the rate payer to fund the interest payments. What then of ESCC. Are they just as irresponsible? no wonder our Council Tax is one of the highest in the country.

ROADS - Potholes in roads are not only dangerous, but also soak up energy with every bump that hinders progress. Pothole Politics is the name for policies that fail to address climate change (sustainable society) issues, but may apply to our pathetic record on adapting to meet the challenges ahead. How can we aim to better ourselves if we cannot even maintain the roads we have.

REPAIRED ONCE ALREADY - Not a bad blend in that one, pity it didn't last. This wear and tear may do better with a stronger repair compound. Who monitors the quality of the tarmac we use on our roads. Should not high traffic areas have a different mix to cope without constant repair after repair. Is there not a high speed repair machine? We certainly need one.

Map of the Wealden District showing the A21 and A22 as the main arteries for traffic. All roads in this district are is dire need of a re-vamp if we are to achieve a sustainable economy.

ROAD LINKS

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/britain-s-pothole-problem-five-times-worse-than-estimated/ar-BB1p7Drm

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/state-of-the-roads/potholes-in-the-uk-at-a-breaking-point/

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/britain-s-pothole-problem-five-times-worse-than-estimated/ar-BB1p7Drm

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/state-of-the-roads/potholes-in-the-uk-at-a-breaking-point/

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/road-network-and-traffic

FOUNDATION - Thomas Jefferson often referred to the term 'good government.' In his opinion, a Government ought to be judged by how well it meets its legitimate objectives. "Legitimate," being the operative word.

"A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread is has earned. This is the sum of good government. "

From the author of the Declaration of Independence.