Concerns Raised About State Of East Sussex Highways

Opposition councillors have raised concerns about the state of the highways in East Sussex.

The concerns were raised at a meeting of East Sussex County Council’s cabinet on Tuesday (March 5), as council leaders discussed a monitoring report, looking back at the authority’s performance during the third quarter of the 2023/24 financial year. 

This wide-ranging report included the results of the council’s annual road condition survey — carried out in the summer — which found five per cent of the county’s non-principal roads and 17 per cent of its unclassified roads required maintenance. Both of these figures are above the council’s targets.

The same survey also found that four per cent of the county’s principal roads require maintenance, an improved figure which is in-line with the council’s targets.

The results saw concerns raised by Liberal Democrat group leader David Tutt, who said:

“When we look at the KPIs [Key Performance Indicators] we see Red against non-principal roads needing repair; more than one-in-six of our non-principal roads needing repair. 

“I know [cabinet member for transport and environment Cllr Claire] Dowling has talked about the additional monies for potholes and the hope that they will be fixed within the not too distant future. 

“But it is not just about potholes is it? It is roads that really need to be resurfaced entirely and relaid, because they haven’t had attention for decades; not just years, decades.” 

In a similar vein, Labour’s Godfrey Daniel raised concerns about how the council judges which roads need maintenance works. He argued the survey failed to reflect the true state of the county’s roads and called on the council to look at how and when it carries this work.

Cllr Daniel said:

“I get more and more worried about these statistics about necessary repairs to roads, because they do not reflect reality. You would be hard pushed in Hastings … to find a road without needing attention. 

“We know potholes get worse in the winter, because of the wet … and freezing conditions. Surely we need to have an update of this which accords with reality.”

He added:

“It cannot be true that of unclassified roads only 17 per cent need attention. It is just nonsense to be honest with you. 

“While I understand Highways have a difficult job and I understand there is not enough money, I think it is about time we look at the statistical evidence and how we record it and actually make it accord with people’s experience.”

Cllr Dowling disputed Cllr Daniel’s suggestion, arguing that it was “impossible” to undertake surveys in winter and pointing out how it was based on criteria set by the Department for Transport. 

She said:

“This survey was also undertaken before this administration put an additional £15.7m into the roads last year. 

“That was on the back of a 10-year plan when we looked at the consultation report. The targets are based over several years. Yes, that is where we were in the summer, but as I say we have put additional money in.

“What doesn’t help, as we found out in February, is we had the wettest February since 1836 … we have had a lot of rain and a lot of very bad conditions this winter so far and we are only at the beginning of March. May I remind you how wet last March was?”

Cllr Dowling went on to say that the council has already stepped up its road maintenance works, saying it currently has more double the normal amount of work gangs out performing repairs. She said the council had also brought in some crews earlier in the year than it normally would to address issues.  

She said:

“The amount of resources that are being thrown — and will continue to be thrown in — to help rectify the issue of the roads. It will continue, we will continue doing it.”

Green Party councillor Johnny Denis had also raised concerns about Highways, pointing to vacancies in the council’s Road Safety team.  Cllr Dowling told members the council was looking to recruit to these roles “as soon as possible.”