Lancashire County Council would support a scheme to charge HGV drivers for using the region’s roads.
Councilors feel that HGVs are responsible for causing most damage to road surfaces and should be made to pay.
Cllr Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet member for Environment and Transportation, explained how his plan would work. He said: “I would like to look at a scheme that says these really big vehicles that are putting so much pressure on our roads would have to put more into the system and then that money could be used to keep the roads up to a certain standard.
“It’s common sense that those who use the roads most and those who cause the most damage should be made to pay most for road maintenance. At the moment we can’t afford to do all of the repairs that are needed so we need to find new ways of raising money.”
The news follows the council’s decision to change the definition of a pothole from 2cm to 4cm deep, which has brought into question the standard of Lancashire’s highways.
The move sparked anger amongst regional road users who have suggested that the scheme was designed purely to save money.
The strongest opposition has come from cyclist groups who claim they are being forced off the road because of the dangers they face.
Cllr Tomlinson said: “We only applied this rule after thorough risk assessment and health and safety checks. The research tells us that we can implement this scheme without compromising the safety of road users.”
Last week, a report published by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) said that there were 3,600 potholes left unrepaired in Lancashire’s roads. This figure was defended by councilors who argued that it was only so high due to the size of the county.
Cyclists groups have campaigned for better road surfaces for many years and the decision of the council to change the classification of potholes was met with anger.
John Davies, Chairman of Ribble Valley Cycling Club said: “The roads throughout Lancashire are in a mess. No roads in the county are particularly good. In fact, many of them are a disgrace. Four centimeters is a real joke. If that’s what they are considering a pothole to be then most of the roads in the county are full of them.
“I challenge any council member to get themselves out on a bike so they can see for themselves how bad the roads actually are.”
Mr. Davies also accused the council of not repairing the roads to a high enough standard. He said: “I am always complaining about potholes but no sooner do they fix one than it’s back again. They only ever seem to do half a job.
“I’ve had a broken arm and collar bone because of potholes that I haven’t been able to avoid. Cyclists can be treated like second-class citizens in this country sometimes.”
Cllr Tomlinson disagreed with this, saying: “I would refute the accusation that a lot of people throw at us that it is two men and a bucket of tarmac. These unsubstantiated accusations fall on deaf ears as far as I’m concerned.”
Cllr Tomlinson’s plan to charge HGV drivers extra is a long way from fruition but Mr. Davies said that punishing heavy goods vehicles for using the roads would not solve the problem: “I don’t think that’s fair. Yet again we see the council thinking they can just hit the motorist, whoever they are.”
Councilors feel that HGVs are responsible for causing most damage to road surfaces and should be made to pay.
Cllr Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet member for Environment and Transportation, explained how his plan would work. He said: “I would like to look at a scheme that says these really big vehicles that are putting so much pressure on our roads would have to put more into the system and then that money could be used to keep the roads up to a certain standard.
“It’s common sense that those who use the roads most and those who cause the most damage should be made to pay most for road maintenance. At the moment we can’t afford to do all of the repairs that are needed so we need to find new ways of raising money.”
The news follows the council’s decision to change the definition of a pothole from 2cm to 4cm deep, which has brought into question the standard of Lancashire’s highways.
The move sparked anger amongst regional road users who have suggested that the scheme was designed purely to save money.
The strongest opposition has come from cyclist groups who claim they are being forced off the road because of the dangers they face.
Cllr Tomlinson said: “We only applied this rule after thorough risk assessment and health and safety checks. The research tells us that we can implement this scheme without compromising the safety of road users.”
Last week, a report published by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) said that there were 3,600 potholes left unrepaired in Lancashire’s roads. This figure was defended by councilors who argued that it was only so high due to the size of the county.
Cyclists groups have campaigned for better road surfaces for many years and the decision of the council to change the classification of potholes was met with anger.
John Davies, Chairman of Ribble Valley Cycling Club said: “The roads throughout Lancashire are in a mess. No roads in the county are particularly good. In fact, many of them are a disgrace. Four centimeters is a real joke. If that’s what they are considering a pothole to be then most of the roads in the county are full of them.
“I challenge any council member to get themselves out on a bike so they can see for themselves how bad the roads actually are.”
Mr. Davies also accused the council of not repairing the roads to a high enough standard. He said: “I am always complaining about potholes but no sooner do they fix one than it’s back again. They only ever seem to do half a job.
“I’ve had a broken arm and collar bone because of potholes that I haven’t been able to avoid. Cyclists can be treated like second-class citizens in this country sometimes.”
Cllr Tomlinson disagreed with this, saying: “I would refute the accusation that a lot of people throw at us that it is two men and a bucket of tarmac. These unsubstantiated accusations fall on deaf ears as far as I’m concerned.”
Cllr Tomlinson’s plan to charge HGV drivers extra is a long way from fruition but Mr. Davies said that punishing heavy goods vehicles for using the roads would not solve the problem: “I don’t think that’s fair. Yet again we see the council thinking they can just hit the motorist, whoever they are.”
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