167 years to replace Surrey’s failing footways
Figures revealed to the Liberal Democrats at today's meeting of Surrey County Council have shown that a third of the county's footways are 'functionally or structurally impaired' and at the current rate of progress it will take 167 years to replace them.
An answer to a written question from Liberal Democrat Environment & Transportation Spokesperson Cllr Stephen Cooksey states:
The Footway Network Survey (FNS) was completed on schedule this summer and included in the survey were all town paths that are maintained by the County.
The survey identified that Surrey is responsible for 4933kms of footways. The percentage of footways falling into each of the 4FNS categories are:
Category | % of network in each category |
As New | 1% |
Aesthetically Impaired | 66% |
Functionally Impaired | 27% |
Structural Impaired | 6% |
The countywide capital footway programme for 2014/15 includes for 10.4km of functionally or structurally impaired footways to be reconstructed. This equates to 0.6% of the all of the footways that fall into the functionally or structurally impaired categories.
Cllr Stephen Cooksey said: "0.6% of Surrey's failing footways being reconstructed in a year works out as 167 years to reconstruct all the failing footways. Of course the other two thirds will also become 'functionally impaired' given time.
"Surrey County Council's Conservative administration say a great deal about improving highways for motorists, but they mustn't ignore the county's many pedestrians and walkers."