Suffolk roads 'better than national average' despite opposition criticism, says county council

Suffolk County Council has defended its transport spending record, citing independent surveys showing the county's roads are in better condition than national averages, as opposition councillors question the authority's management of government funding.

Why it matters: The dispute comes as Suffolk receives £27m in new government funding for transport schemes between 2026 and 2030, with opposition councillors raising concerns about the council's ability to effectively manage and spend the allocation.

The details: The Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent Group have questioned the council's financial management after quarterly reports revealed significant underspends on current transport programmes. The council had planned to spend £11.9m on Active Travel schemes this year, but now forecasts spending only £2.8m, while electric vehicle charging infrastructure spending has been cut from a planned £4.8m to just £0.9m.

Cllr Keith Welham, GLI Group Spokesperson for Highways, Transport and Rural Services, said: "This new money from the government is an excellent opportunity to improve transport across the county and Suffolk County Council needs to make the most of it. However, recent financial reporting suggests that they are failing to spend the money they are given and provide these improvements."

What they're saying: Suffolk County Council has rejected the criticism, with a spokesperson highlighting recent achievements, including the completion of the Europa Way link road ahead of schedule, the resurfacing of 250 local roads, and over 42,000 pothole repairs since partnering with contractor M Group Highways in October 2023.

"Independent surveys show that Suffolk's roads have improved in recent years and are now in better condition than the national average," the spokesperson said.

By the numbers: According to the council, in 2023, only 2.3% of A roads, 2.6% of B roads, and 3.9% of C roads were classified as being in poor condition, compared to national averages of 4%, 7%, and 7% respectively. Over the past decade, the council states that it has reduced A roads in poor condition by 64%, B roads by 33%, C roads by 40%, and unclassified roads by 68%.

The bigger picture: The council defended its spending approach on Active Travel schemes, stating that the £11.9m funding has been allocated across multiple years, rather than just 12 months, to enable public consultation and design refinements. For electric vehicle infrastructure, delays were attributed to government approval processes and legal requirements, with installations expected to begin this autumn.

The spokesperson added: "Suffolk was the first council in the country to go to tender and award a contract for LEVI EV Charging, so there was an extended period while the necessary approvals were made."

What's next: The council says Active Travel construction is already underway in Woodbridge and Ipswich, with schemes also planned for Martlesham and Sudbury. The authority maintains it has "no concerns regarding M Group Highways' performance to date" and describes the relationship as "strong and collaborative".

The bottom line: While opposition councillors warn of delivery failures that could affect Suffolk's ability to utilise new transport funding effectively, the county council points to improved road conditions and argues its spending approach prioritises community consultation and sustainable programme delivery.