Members' Business: The Condition of Scotland's Roads

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as serious issues with Scotland’s roads; believes that they have considerably deteriorated following the recent extreme weather, with new potholes being created and existing ones becoming worse; understands that recent statistics suggest that more than a quarter of the country's roads are in an unsatisfactory state and that, between 2015 and 2017, almost 12,000 miles of these were either earmarked for inspection or required maintenance; notes reports that, since 2010, spending on maintenance has been reduced by 20%; understands that a recent report by confused.com claimed that the potholes on Scotland's roads were the worst in the UK; believes that the report suggests that these potholes are four miles deep in total, cost £104 million in repairs in 2016, with requests for payments for repairs due to the damage inflicted by them rising by 130% between 2013 and 2017, and that over £2 million has been paid out in pothole-related compensation, and further believes that, despite efforts by local authorities, including the Scottish Borders Council’s commitment to spend £22 million on roads and bridges, the recent severe weather has now made repair almost impossible, meaning that Scotland’s roads are now facing a crisis.