By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
The state of the city’s roads is in decline after maintenance funding failed to keep up with demand for repairs, a report has warned.
Rising costs and an increase in potholes around the city have been causing a maintenance backlog, Leeds City Council said.
Latest figures show there were 14,646 reports of potholes in need of repair in 2023/34.
That was up from 8,855 the previous year and 7,658 during 2021/22.
A council report said there was a national increase in potholes, caused by storms during the second wettest year since records began in 1836.
The council said it had invested £200m in highways maintenance since 2010 to supplement national funding it receives to fix the roads.
The report said: “Whilst the level of investment in highway maintenance has increased it has not kept pace with both the rate of decline of the network condition and industry cost increases.”
The increase in potholes could be behind a rise in third party insurance claims for injury or damage to vehicles.
The council received 610 highways claims during 2023/24, the report said.
Changes to the way claims are processed meant there had been a steady decline since 2010/11, when there were 1,414 claims.
But the number had started to increase more recently, up from 400 in 2020/21.
The report said: “Where the council has not been seen to fulfil its statutory duty it may be liable for damages for personal injury or to property.”
Plans to tackle the backlog will be discussed by the coucnil’s Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth scrutiny board on Wednesday (June 17).
The issue will then be taken to the council’s Executive Board for discussion later this year.
The report said: “Roads suffer continual deterioration through the actions of traffic, extremes of weather and degradation of materials.
“A clear strategy for regular maintenance is essential to keep these assets in a safe and serviceable condition.”
The council have money to put up twenty miles an hour signs, that no one voted for, plus flashing twenty signs. If it was about safety, and not control, they would repair the dangerous road surface.
You have a choice, be hit by a car travelling at 20mph vs one travelling at 40mph. Which would you want?
They spend millions on armley giratory
Millions on stopping car routes in the city
Millions on cycle and bus lanes
Millions on the western ring road
Build a bridge for crossing at Calverley
that maybe 10 or so will use a day
Yet they cannot afford to repairs to the roads. (And Clowns Plead no funds)
Shows council all anti car
All this without proper city wide consultation shows them as a dictatorship
Once elected
They are killing Leeds not building it up
as footfall shows and businesses moving out.