MSP slams ‘sticking plaster’ approach to roads

THE “sticking plaster” approach to fixing Edinburgh’s roads cannot go on, a leading MSP has warned.

Lothians Green MSP Alison Johnstone said compensation paid for pothole damage had more than tripled since 2007.

Her stance was issued yesterday despite an audit report showing the percentage of local roads in acceptable condition had marginally increased over the past two years.

The Accounts Commission pointed towards the report as evidence that major changes to improve the management of roads maintenance had still not happened.

Ms Johnstone said: “Edinburgh’s streets seem better suited to off-road vehicles than bikes and buses. The sticky plaster approach to fixing our roads can’t go on.

“Ensuring councils have funds to catch up on the growing backlog of road maintenance would be a better use of scarce funds than vanity projects like an extra motorway over the Forth.”