The Road Emulsion Association (REA) has urged all candidates in the upcoming local elections to commit to long-term, preventative maintenance of local roads.
The campaign highlights the environmental, economic and social benefits of planned treatments such as surface dressing and encapsulation.
In 2025, surface dressing increased by 15%, with one in four treated roads now protected by a double waterproofing layer. The REA describes this as a turning point after more than a decade of decline in preventative work.
Local roads account for 98% of the UK’s network, yet the REA warns that many councils continue to prioritise reactive pothole repairs.
The campaign follows the Government’s multi-year highways funding settlement and will run until late March.
