Only 103 Years to Go: Oxfordshire’s Road Resurfacing Plan in Top Gear

A Banbury councillor has criticised Oxfordshire County Council after being told that, on average, local roads are resurfaced once every 103 years.

Councillor Andrew Crichton, who represents Banbury Hardwick, has urged the council to resurface Horsham Close, which residents claim has not been resurfaced since it was built in 1983.

The issue was raised at a council meeting on Tuesday, where Councillor Andrew Gant, the Cabinet Member for Transport, responded to Cllr Crichton’s question about the long delay in maintenance.

Cllr Gant said the council operates under a “risk-based approach” to road maintenance, prioritising safety inspections, essential repairs, and preventative treatments. He noted that resurfacing decisions are guided by both road condition and available funding.

“This is not just an issue for Oxfordshire, but a national one,” he explained. “The latest ALARM survey shows that the average resurfacing cycle for all road types in England is every 103 years.”

Cllr Crichton described the response as disappointing, arguing that the statistics do not reflect the realities faced by residents.

“I didn’t expect this kind of response from the Cabinet Member for Transport,” he said. “Those figures include many roads that see little traffic. Horsham Close and nearby roads are regularly used by residents and should be resurfaced far more often.

“I thought this would be uncontroversial, but clearly the Liberal Democrat leadership at Oxfordshire believes 42 years isn’t long enough to merit resurfacing. I’ll continue to push for better road maintenance in our area.”