皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app government has given 拢30,000 to back the development of an innovative smartphone application to report potholes, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced today (24 December 2013).

皇冠体育app Department for Transport (DfT) pledged the cash to enable CTC, the National Cycling Charity, to revamp its website and develop a new app compatible with smartphones running Android software.

Over 9 million iPhone users can download the website鈥檚 current app to report potholed roads to their councils; the new app could boost that figure to over 26 million and is expected to be ready in February, at the start of 鈥榩othole season鈥� when the winter damage to roads is at its greatest.

Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said:

皇冠体育app government is serious about tackling potholes. At best they are an irritation but at worst they can damage vehicles and pose a serious danger to cyclists. That is why we want people to tell councils where to find them so they can fill them in. This app means more people are going to be able to report potholes more easily.

Filling potholes in quickly is only one half of the story. Research has also shown a long-term approach to road maintenance, rather than patch and mend, can save councils and taxpayers money and potentially save lives thanks to better road conditions.

CTC originally developed its app for cyclists, who can receive life-changing injuries from accidents caused by potholes, but it is now used by all types of road user, from delivery drivers to motorists concerned about potential damage to their vehicle.

皇冠体育app app sends local authorities up-to-the-minute information about potholes which the council may not otherwise know about, allowing them to identify trouble spots needing action fast. In the past year around 拢23.8 million was paid in compensation by local authorities across England due to the poor condition of their roads according to the Asphalt Industry Alliance.

皇冠体育app support for the app comes as more local authorities adopt new government guidelines which urge councils to plan extensive maintenance well in advance, rather than years of costly 鈥榩atching鈥� as potholes appear 鈥� saving the taxpayer money.

皇冠体育app government has provided over 拢3 billion to authorities in England (excluding London) between 2011/2012 to 2015/2016, plus an additional 拢200 million in 2011 following the severe winter.

In June, the department announced a further 拢5.8 billion for local highways maintenance from 2015/2016 to 2020/2021. This equates to around 拢976 million per year, a funding increase of 拢163 million a year.

CTC Chief Executive Gordon Seabright said:

CTC has been working to ensure roads are safe for cycling since our foundation in 1878. We are delighted to have the government鈥檚 support for our 鈥楩ill that hole鈥� website and app, which are already highly effective ways for road users to get potholes filled.

This partnership with the Department for Transport will enable us to provide this free service to far more cyclists and other road users. It鈥檚 also a great example of CTC and the government working together to get Britain cycling.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, the Oldham Council Cabinet member for Environment and Housing, said:

Over the last four years Oldham Council has invested 拢10 million into repairing highways across the borough and put in an additional 拢2 million, which included purchasing new machines, to make repairs quicker, longer-lasting and less expensive than ever before.

We always try to provide value for money for our residents and this smartphone application, coupled with our own app that we are launching very soon, will help us provide a more cost effective and high-quality outcome.