Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 57
57
National Highways mitigated risks of pollution from 23 drainage points in 2020/21.
Conclusion
National Highways mitigated risks of pollution from 23 drainage points in 2020/21. At this rate it will take over 55 years to address the 1,326 outfalls and soakaways it has identified as high risk, not to mention the thousands of other potentially polluting drains on the strategic road network. This is unacceptably slow progress. We are sceptical that the company will be able to achieve its target of no net loss of biodiversity without working at a much faster rate to neutralise the direct risks to water quality from those outfalls it manages. (Paragraph 287) Water quality in rivers 127
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support this where possible. National Highways is working on an environmental sustainability strategy for the future which will incorporate these issues. The Department for Transport is currently developing the third Road Investment Strategy (2025–2030) which provides an opportunity to set out our performance requirements and the associated funding required. As this is a future planning round in process, it is not possible to make a commitment at this time.