District is a UK roadworks hotspot, according to study

Research carried out by Bill Plant Driving School has ranked the district as seventh in the list of UK council areas where most roadworks have been carried out in the past year.

But the study has been criticised as "too simplistic" by Bradford Council.

The research findings show that around £12 billion has been spent on roadworks across the UK in 2021-22.

Bill Plant Driving School ranked different areas nationally after obtaining information through a series of Freedom of Information requests to local authorities.

The study doesn't account for differences in population, but instead rates local authorities purely on the number of street and roadworks carried out in the year 2021-22.

The study found that there were 27,301 roadworks in Bradford district during that timeframe, placing it seventh.

Neighbour Leeds was ranked three places below Bradford, having had 24,851 street and roadworks over the same period.

Staying in the north of England, the East Riding of Yorkshire was ranked fifth, with 32,420 instances of roadworks.

Topping the list UK-wide was Essex County Council, with 77,423 instances, which came well ahead of second-placed Staffordshire County Council, which had 52,871 roadworks in 2021-22.

Cardiff was third with 43,252 roadworks followed by West Northamptonshire Council, which had 34,557.

At the other end of the table, Isle of Anglesey Council carried out 1,204 roadworks, which was the lowest in the UK.

After being approached for a comment in response to the data, Bradford Council was critical of the study for not taking into account factors such as population differences and local demands.

It added that it tried its best to avoid causing traffic delays in the district, but that highways maintenance work remained vital.

"Ranking roadworks in this way is too simplistic given the differences in populations and local demands across the UK," said a council spokesperson.

"Local works support vital infrastructure for a population of over 500,000 people in the country’s fifth largest metropolitan district.

"We do our best to minimise disruption – however, the works are unavoidable given huge demands on our highways, gas and electricity, telecommunications, water supply and sewer networks.

"The council is also investing in our local economy, including significant improvements in the highways. This will bring greater prosperity and productivity and better quality of life for our residents."

The full research can be found at billplant.co.uk/blog/uks-roadwork-capitals.