Torbay Council has secured its full allocation of government funding for road maintenance this year under a new national “traffic light” rating system – although councillors say much more investment is still needed to tackle long-standing issues.
The Department for Transport has introduced the new rating scheme to assess how well local highway authorities maintain their roads and manage funding. Councils are graded green, amber or red, with the results influencing how much highways funding they receive.
Torbay’s overall rating was amber, meaning the council is delivering an acceptable or good service in many areas but still has room for improvement. This rating places Torbay in line with the majority of local authorities across England, with only a small number achieving the top green score.
Despite the amber rating, the good news for residents is that Torbay Council has successfully demonstrated appropriate spending plans and highway management through newly required “Transparency Reports”. As a result, the council has received its full highways maintenance funding allocation for the current financial year.
Roads Rated ‘Green’ for Condition
Torbay’s roads themselves achieved the highest possible green rating for road condition, highlighting positive progress in the upkeep of the network. However, other areas – including capital investment and best practice – were rated amber.
Councillor Adam Billings, Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, welcomed the funding but stressed that it does not go far enough.
“I am pleased that Torbay has secured the full allocation of funding from the Department for Transport for the current year, and I assure our residents that every penny of this funding will be spent on improving the condition of our road network,” he said.
“However, the level of funding still falls woefully short of what we need to really make a difference to the current backlog of major roads maintenance.”
Calls for Fairer Funding for Urban Areas
Councillor Billings said Torbay’s amber rating for capital investment may reflect the ongoing struggle to secure sufficient funding, particularly for urban areas with heavier traffic and greater wear and tear.
“I will be working with our local MPs to make a case for funding which reflects the additional maintenance burdens that affect urban areas like Torbay,” he added.
While the council was encouraged by the green rating for road condition, the amber rating for best practice was described as disappointing, given recent changes to align with national guidance.
“We have introduced an Asset Management Policy and Strategy, new risk-based highway inspection procedures and increased investment in preventative maintenance,” Councillor Billings said.
“This is the first year of these new reporting requirements, and there was a lack of clear guidance for some of the information requested, which may have impacted this rating.”
Looking Ahead
Torbay Council plans to seek feedback from the Department for Transport to improve future submissions and ensure its work is fully recognised.
“An overall amber rating shows we compare well with the majority of highway authorities nationally and regionally,” Councillor Billings said. “But we will continue working to improve and make sure our residents get the road network they deserve.”
Residents can view how Torbay compares with other councils on the government’s local road maintenance ratings website.
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