Local transport challenges

Respondents were asked what they thought were the main transport-related challenges facing their local area (it was not specified whether this was a trunk road or non-trunk road area).

The most commonly reported challenge was poor road conditions, mentioned by 67% of respondents. As in 2019, this was mentioned by almost twice as many respondents as the next most commonly perceived challenge (Figure 9.1)

Figure 9.1: Perceived transport-related challenges facing respondents’ local areas (top ten responses), as described in the text above
Figure 9.1: Perceived transport-related challenges facing respondents’ local areas (top ten responses)

There was some variation in perceived challenges by region:

  • Respondents in the North East were more likely to mention the cost of road improvements/maintenance (35%, compared with 29% overall), preparing for/dealing with severe weather conditions (24%, compared with 19% overall) and the lack of bus links/routes in rural areas (22% compared with 16% overall). They were less likely to report congestion on roads (17%, compared with 28% overall).
  • Those in the South East were more likely to report congestion on roads being a challenge (39%, compared with 28% overall).
  • Those in the South West were more likely to report train delays/unreliable rail services (21%, compared with 17% overall). They were less likely to mention a lack of bus links/routes in rural areas (10%, compared with 16% overall).