asked the Minister for the Environment in views of the serious damage to bridges and culverts on primary, secondary, regional and county roads as a result of flooding over the past year, if he will now direct local authorities to professionally examine all bridges and culverts in their areas by their engineering staffs as to their permanent safety; and if he will make the necessary funds available to repair, renew or replace any deficiencies.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Road Grants.
18.
Primary responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of roads, including road bridges and culverts, and for carrying out any examinations of these structures in their administrative areas, rests with each local authority. In 1986, grant commitments were notified to each county council to finance the cost of surveying bridges or national primary and national secondary routes.
Following the recent severe floods, all the bridges and culverts affected by the flooding were examined by the local authorities. In view of the extent of the damage, the Government decided to provide £6.5 million to local authorities towards the cost of repairing damage to roads and bridges. Grants in respect of flood damage have now been allocated to local authorities calculated on the basis of the full approved cost of the repair-improvement of bridges and on 75 per cent to 100 per cent of the approved cost of other road works.