RSTA News
Calls by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CLIT) for the government to give higher priority to maintaining existing transport infrastructure rather than build new roads and rail have been welcomed by the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
Budgetary cutbacks, sustainability issues and meeting the expectations of motorists is a challenging combination that is seeing local highway authorities turn to the road surface industry for cost effective and innovative solutions reports Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association.
The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has launched its Autumn 2010 training programme. Topics include slurry-micro surfacing, surface dressing, high friction surfacing and other highway maintenance techniques. The courses, which are held throughout the UK, are all CPD approved and meet the requirements of the road surface industry's Sector Scheme 13.
With significant cutbacks predicted in the training budgets of local authorities and private companies, the role of the trade association as a training resource has never been so important. Done properly the trade association as a training resource could be a win- win situation believes Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surfaces Treatments Association (RSTA).
THE LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY 10th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, February 16-17, 2011, Britannia Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
The Roads Surface Treatment Association (RSTA) has warned that the Budget proposals to freeze council tax in 2011-12 could have severe consequences on the conditions of local roads.
COOL ASPHALT PROMISES SIGNIFICANT CO2 REDUCTIONS
A series of pilot projects aimed at cutting a third off carbon emissions of road works and cutting the time taken to carry them out has been welcomed by the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
In all the excitement of the election it is easy to overlook the fact that at the end of last month the House of Commons Select Committee published its report into the Strategic Road Network. Links below to the entire report include written and oral evidence provided by the Road Users Alliance (RUA), but also the Daily Telegraph resume for those short on time.
It is worth noting the significant importance attached to Stephen Glaister's evidence (RAC Foundation - RUA member) and Edmund King of the AA (Formerly of RACf and RUA Director). All three gave evidence at the same time.
This report is probably the first time that an agent of the political process has not only asked to hear RUA views but has substantially endorsed RUA thinking and policy.
This was, therefore of some considerable significance and an indication of the value of RUA and of its potential.
The Committee endorses the majority of RUA's arguments, including that the lack of motorway network puts the UK at a competitive disadvantage in Europe; that the strategic network should be upgraded wherever possible to dual carriageway; that a better strategic overview is needed from DfT; that only a small proportion of journeys can transfer from road to rail; and that effective investment in the road network is required to combat congestion; that hard shoulder running should not be a substitute for motorway widening.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmtran/505/505.pdf
THE CLIMATE OF ECONOMIC CHANGE: RSTA CONFERENCE REPORT 2010
Climate change and economic change are two major challenges facing the road surface sector. The recent annual conference, The Climate of Economic Change, of the Road Surface Treatments Association examined how best to answer those challenges with cost-effective and long-term solutions.
Increasingly, the ability to repair and renew, rather than reconstruct is being recognised as the way forward for real long-term sustainability. However many local authorities have yet to grasp this concept when it comes to maintaining their highway networks believes Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association.
The Chancellor's announcement of a £100 million emergency fund to help councils repair the plague of potholes resulting from this year's severe weather, although welcomed, is insufficient to make a real difference to the poor state of repair of many of our roads warns the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
The Road Maintenance Treatments conference papers are now available online at:
http://www.soci.org/News/CMATS-Road-Maintenance-Treatments-papers-2010.aspx
The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has welcomed calls from the AA for a 2p a litre from fuel tax to be diverted into a fund to repair potholes. According to the AA, the monies generated would provide £140 million, enough to repair the estimated 2 million outstanding potholes in 3-4 months.
Innovative and fast acting road surface treatments are coming to the rescue of local councils as the thaw reveals the damage done to our roads by the recent ‘Big Freeze’.
Despite the proven success of high friction surfacing in reducing the potential for accidents, its use is declining as local highway authorities face increased budgetary pressures. This has serious consequences for road safety warns Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association. With road accidents each costing over £1 million, not installing high friction surfacing also has significant financial costs.