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Three million holes in roads
By Yoann Besnard on 3 April 2008 | 
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Drivers are having to dodge more than 3 million holes in the road.
In a report, the Asphalt Industry Alliance reveals that around 1 million are potholes left unfixed by local councils, while holes dug by utility companies account for a further 2.5 million road openings. The poor state of roads in England and Wales is caused by a shortfall of more than £1 billion in road maintenance budgets and £53 million was paid out in compensation for damage to vehicles or road traffic accidents in 2006/07.
"Despite some increase in central Government funding over recent years, it seems that highways maintenance is still suffering from historically being treated as the Cinderella service, " said Asphalt Industry Alliance chairman Jim Crick.
There is an 11-year backlog of maintenance work, while some roads faced a 65-year wait for resurfacing.
