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 Everyone relies to a greater or lesser extent on the public road network. Those that travel on it simply require that the road (footway or carriageway) provides a safe and comfortable surface relative to the speed at which they expect to be able to travel. It's not expected that all roads are in tip-top condition all of the time but, as surfaces deteriorate, they would ideally be treated using the most appropriate treatment at the appropriate time to save cost in the long term.
Our political and financial systems do little to encourage a long term strategy for infrastructure maintenance so, as budgets become tight and other priorities get more attention, appropriate maintenance is deferred leading to more costly repairs later. The profession hasn't been good at being able to answer "what if" questions. What if we do this treatment rather than that? What if we spend 10 per cent less? What if we spend 10 per cent more? What will be the condition of our roads in 15 years?
 Audit Scotland and, more recently, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy recognise the benefits of developing the way authorities carry out roads asset management planning. SCOTS is at the forefront of developing this. SCOTS initiated the annual Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey. SCOTS is also leading a national project to support roads asset management planning in all 32 Scottish Local Authorities, developing models that will allow the profession to answer those "what if" questions and help all of us better understand the likely consequences of our decisions. |
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