Bin lorries are to be fitted with high-tech cameras to spot the signs of potholes on Britain’s roads – despite a £12billion backlog of work already
Thousands of potholes across the country are still waiting to be repaired - with the average total repair time hitting 14 years
BIN LORRIES are to be fitted with "revolutionary" pothole spotting cameras – despite the millions blighting roads across the country.
Transport Ministers will today detail plans to fit rubbish trucks in Thurrock, Essex and York with hi-tech kit to spot cracks in the road before they become craters.
The Department for Transport insisted the kit comprised "high definition cameras, integrated navigation system and intelligent software" to identify problems before potholes appear.
But council chiefs and motoring organisations pointed out it was already far too easy to spot potholes that haven’t been fixed across the country.
The Local Government Association last week said the current backlog of work was estimated to be £12 billion – rising to £14 billion in 2019.
And it said the average pothole repair time had soared from around 10.9 years in 2006 to 14 years in 2016. Around ninety motorists a week are being handed compensation by councils because of damage being done to their cars.
LGA transport spokesman Cllr Martin Tett said: "The money today will help councils tackle some of the growing repair backlog. However substantially more funding is needed to bring our roads up to scratch."
RELATED STORIES
Lib Dem chief Tim Farron added: "This money will be, in practice, about as useless as the Ministers announcing it.
"We face a £14 billion pothole black hole and the Government announce this – a couple of cameras attached to bin lorries.
"It’s cheap, gesture politics of the worst kind."
Self-styled ‘Mr Pothole’ campaigner Mark Morrell told the Sun: "It’s all well and good collecting this information but what are they going to do with it?"
The DfT is separately confirmed a £1.2 billion pot of cash would be available for councils to fix the roads in 2017-2018. Around £250 million will go to a National Pothole Action Fund.
Some £8 million is being allocated to the east Midlands – enough to fix 152,000 potholes.
A further £75 million will go towards repairing bridges, lighting and rural roads. Separately, the DfT will also fund plans for a new motorway junction on the M11, near Harlow, Essex and a new 200,000 home development.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones insisted the Government was investing "record" amounts. He said: "The funding we have allocated today is focused on relieving congestion and providing important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future – helping to build an economy that works for everyone."
Thurrock Council insisted the new pothole spotters would help offers "learn" how to identify problems – and get the "best possible outcomes" for local residents.
Council leader Rob Gledhill said: "This is an exciting addition to the work already underway."
The Sun last month revealed the state of the roads is so bad, councils have been forced to settle 19,000 compensation claims for potholes over the past four years. The average payout for damage to vehicles is a staggering £650.
AA president Edmund King told the Sun: "Pothole problems always top our drivers’ polls. Potholes are a major peril for all road-users and particularly those on two wheels.
"There are already more than 30m pothole spotters (drivers) out there who spot them on a daily basis.
"The revolutionary pothole-spotter system to clock road surface problems before they become potholes could be pioneering as long as the potholes are plugged."