The road to ruin

Town halls have invariably justified above-inflation increases in this charge by saying that extra money is needed for emergency planning, such as preparing for bad weather or repairing potholes on frost-damaged roads.

Safety must come first, they argued. No one disputes this sentiment – and the exceptional nature of the weather is borne out by the additional 100m being made available nationally to replenish salt stocks and fill in potholes.

It should not require a snow levy, such as the one that is being intimated by North Yorkshire County Council and others. If such authorities have a shortfall, they need to persuade the Government to make more funds available or consider what efficiency savings can be introduced to offset these additional costs.

Residents already pay for their roads and pavements to be maintained at all times. Given how so many authorities failed to fulfil this obligation, it would be an insult if they were to charge households twice for this privilege.