I notice the chickens are coming home to roost. There is an RAC report on the condition of road bridges that suggests that £5 billion plus is required to upgrade bridges to complete safety and capability. 

The issue of Hammersmith Bridge is an example of what happens when a make-do-and-mend policy is followed. I think this dates back to the Thatcher era where cuts and further cuts seemed to be the order of the day, along with a relaxation of standards. This, of course, excludes the refurbishment of government offices and the quality of day-to-day lunches for ministers.

Governments of all colours have had the opportunity to address this problem and have not done so. The frightening thought is that over the next 10 years recovery of the economy will be seen to be of paramount importance, as it is where all funds come from. Funds will be allocated to ensure the recovery of the economy and financing of the recovery of years of under investment will be squeezed.

For this reason we need to embark on a period of joined-up thinking – for example, there is no point having a motorway-quality road leading to a substandard bridge, so projects should be for links and nodes, rather than links or nodes. The most efficient way of deploying funds must be the order of the day, so is £141 million well spent on Hammersmith Bridge or could such an amount be better used elsewhere?

The government needs to be more prescriptive and ring fence central government funding for highway projects, as well as the regular highway maintenance. Because of the position, we find ourselves in, due to the pandemic coming just as we leave the EU, a new prioritisation system needs to be introduced. The most important thing is to deploy the highway asset in as efficient way as possible, so some local imperatives may have to be side lined, but if the government formulates a system that is in the national interest, political considerations can be neutralised.

The idea that cheapest is best must be questioned. Currently, there is a shortage of cardboard caused by its overuse by online sales, so is there an argument for a cardboard tax? In the same way the use of roads might need to be better costed, this to equalise the cost of incoming and outgoing goods through docks. It can’t be an efficient use of roads if a load comes into Dover, then passes within a short distance of Hull to its UK destination.

It's not good enough for the government to allow market forces to dictate our futures the efficient use of the national infrastructure is essential to take advantage of the freedom Brexit extends, so some interventions are required, at least while we recover from the pandemic crisis. Some of our politicians have to become statesmen/women including those in opposition to lead us into the bright future we, undoubtedly, are capable of delivering. No pun intended.