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17 February 2026 Road industry body calls on local elections candidates to back preventative roads maintenance The Road Emulsion Association (REA) has today launched its local elections 2026 cross-party campaign, urging all candidates across England, Scotland and Wales to commit to a long-term, preventative approach to maintaining the UK’s local road network. As part of […]
One in four surface dressed UK local roads treated with ‘encapsulation protection’ in 2024–25 to improve climate resilience and prevent potholes In 2024 and 2025, a quarter of local roads that were surface dressed received an additional coating of encapsulation – a highways preventative maintenance method that doubly protects the road and stops potholes forming. […]
Following last week’s Budget, government has now confirmed a multi-year highways maintenance funding package through to 2030. From the perspective of the Road Emulsion Association (REA), this represents a decisive step forward in tackling the UK’s local road challenges. In the announcement, we’ve seen… Record baseline established: 2025 was announced as a record year for […]
On Wednesday 26 November, Chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves delivered what has been described as a “Big Budget”. Relatively speaking, we’ve seen high tax, high spend announcements. And they could impact the way government and local authorities invest in our road network. From the perspective of the Road Emulsion Association, one particular new policy is […]
New data points to encouraging uptick in pothole prevention work 15% more surface dressing work carried out in 2025 than in 2024 But level of pothole prevention work still 32% below 2012 level Vital surface dressing work on Britain’s local roads that is proven to prevent potholes forming increased by 15% this year, new data […]
IBEF Workshop on Bitumen Emulsion Technology – Vienna 2026 The International Bitumen Emulsion Federation (IBEF) will be hosting a Workshop on Bitumen Emulsion Technology in Vienna, Austria on 10th June 2026. This in-person technical workshop offers an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to explore the latest developments and innovations in bitumen emulsion technology, network with […]
REA to Present at IBEF Winter Webinar 2025 Mark your calendars for Thursday 11th December 2025, when the International Bitumen Emulsion Federation (IBEF) hosts its Winter Webinar from 13:00-15:00 Central European Time (UTC+1). Kevin Maw from the Renewable Energy Association will be presenting a short paper titled “The Benefits of Encapsulation” during this free technical […]
Polymer Modified Emulsions and Surface Dressing: The Key to Preventing the Next Pothole Pandemic By Kevin Maw, Consultant & Secretary at the REA Across the UK, local road authorities are facing a mounting crisis. Repair backlogs now exceed £16.3 billion, while potholes multiply faster than budgets can address them. Once regarded as one of the […]
Preventative road maintenance plays a vital role in keeping our communities safe and connected. It is also more cost-effective than simply relying on a reactive maintenance strategy. But explaining its value to residents isn’t always straightforward. When a road appears to be in good condition, it can be puzzling to see it undergoing treatment. Without […]
Surface dressing is not new. It has been used for many years as a road maintenance treatment to protect and improve the conditions of the road surface. Incredibly, the Road Emulsion Association Limited was formed in 1928 and will be celebrating its centenary year in 2028, having represented the interests of bitumen emulsion producers over […]
