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National Highways: Flood Control

Asked by Blake StephensonConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 3 February 2025UIN 26374

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the maintenance regime for balancing ponds owned by National Highways.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood

The maintenance requirements of the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are governed by a robust set of standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - and National Highways determines the maintenance works to be undertaken on all assets, based on the GM701 standard which details asset maintenance requirements. While no specific assessment has been made by the Department on the effectiveness of the standards for maintaining SRN balancing ponds, standards are continually evolving in line with best practice.

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