Herefordshire Council has raced ahead of 77 other local authorities to be named as the most improved organisation in the annual National Highway and Transport survey.

Satisfaction with Herefordshire’s roads, which are maintained by Herefordshire Council through Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP), are the most improved in the country according to the findings of a national survey published on Thursday, October 22nd.

The survey, which independently questioned more than 3,000 local residents, showed that public satisfaction in the condition of roads had improved significantly by over 10 per cent.

Cllr Paul Rone, cabinet member for transport and roads, said he was heartened that the two-year, £40 million investment programme has delivered and that the improvement made is being recognised by residents. He said: "This is the biggest roads investment programme ever undertaken in the county and it’s great to see that satisfaction with our roads and street lighting has improved. We still have work to do to sustain the condition of our roads, but these results are a real indication that the investment made to date has been worthwhile.”

Andy Williams, BBLP contractor director, said the partnership with the council had enabled them to complete 20 times more road repairs than the national average.

He said: “We are pleased to be playing such an active role in improving the condition of the county’s roads. The investment programme allows us to undertake more resurfacing, which has the biggest and most long-lasting impact, over and above everyday maintenance work.”

The survey showed growing approval for highways services, including:

satisfaction about the condition of the road surface - up 13 per cent

up 14 per cent for weed killing on pavements and roads

an 18 per cent increase in the satisfaction with keeping drains clear and working

satisfaction with the way potholes and damaged roads are dealt with went up by 10 per cent

up nearly 12 per cent in the approval for the way in which obstructions on pavements are dealt with

up nearly 11 per cent for keeping roads clear of obstructions

satisfaction with street lighting – up 14 per cent