Road maintenance ‘in steep decline’

According to a trade body for the building material industries, the lack of construction activity looks set to continue to be a dead weight holding back economic recovery.

The Mineral Products Association( MPA) said “very poor asphalt figures” follow an 18% decline in 2012, allied to the increasing evidence of worsening road conditions.

ONS data indicates that road construction fell by 41% in 2012.

MPAsurvey results for the first quarter of 2013 also confirm the slow start to construction activity in 2013.

Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the MPA, said:

“The disappointing first quarter results reflect the reality that construction activity remains very depressed following the 8% decline in construction during 2012.

“We hope that the measures to boost housing announced in the Budget and the implementation of infrastructure funding increases from the Autumn Statement will help stimulate increased demand as the year proceeds.

“The key message must be about focusing on accelerating delivery and the conversion of well intentioned announcements into increased cashflow throughout the supply chain.

“Publicly and privately funded infrastructure projects must be delivered more quickly to back up positive policy and funding announcements. If not, the lack of construction activity will continue to be a dead weight holding back economic recovery.”

Compared with the first quarter of 2012, sales of construction aggregates (crushed rock and sand and gravel) fell by 7%, ready-mixed concrete by 4%.