Romford councillor launches road safety survey to gather residents’ views on local repairs and maintenance

Key Points:

• Councillor David Taylor of Romford’s St Edward’s ward has launched a road safety and repair survey.
• Aims to gather feedback from over 2,000 homes across Romford.
• The survey asks residents to highlight problematic roads and issues like potholes, faded markings, damaged kerbs, blocked drains and overgrown foliage.
• Survey launched after Havering Council asked councillors to prioritise 3 roads per ward for repairs.
• Taylor promises to personally visit the 10 most frequently reported roads and flag them to the Council.
• In the first week alone, nearly 100 responses were received.
• Key findings include:
  • 72% reported cracked/uneven road surfaces
  • 56% cited potholes
  • 24% noted damaged kerbs
  • 19% reported blocked drains
• Taylor stated he would forward issues outside his ward to relevant councillors.
• The initiative is self-funded by Councillor Taylor.
• Residents can complete the survey at: www.davidtaylor.online/road-survey

Thousands of Romford residents are being asked to share their concerns over the condition of local roads, as Councillor David Taylor launches a major survey aimed at identifying urgent repair and safety priorities across his ward.

Why was the road safety survey launched in Romford?

As reported by The Havering Daily on 29 May 2025, Councillor David Taylor initiated the Romford Road Survey in response to a borough-wide request by Havering Council asking each councillor to nominate three priority roads for maintenance. Rather than select these roads in isolation, Taylor decided to canvas his constituents directly.

“I believe in delivering solutions to actual problems, and I care about our town,” Taylor told The Havering Daily. “Romford is my home, I am in my ward every day, and I will always play my part in making it a great place to live.”

What kind of feedback are residents providing?

According to the first wave of responses, residents across St Edward’s ward are reporting a range of persistent and hazardous road issues. The Havering Daily notes the following early findings from the survey:

• 72% have observed cracked or uneven road surfaces
• 56% report potholes
• 24% highlight damaged kerbs
• 19% raise concerns about blocked drains

Other commonly mentioned problems include poorly executed previous repairs, dangerously overgrown trees and bushes, and road crossings that pose risks to pedestrians, prams, and mobility scooter users.

What is Councillor Taylor planning to do with the data?

Taylor stated to The Havering Daily that he would personally visit the top 10 most-reported streets and ensure these are formally brought to the council’s attention.

“There’s a lot for us to be sorting here,” he said. “I’ll make sure every one of these issues makes it to the town hall.”

He also pledged to forward reports from residents who live outside his ward to their respective councillors. “Making our town a better place to live goes beyond party politics,” he added.

How is the survey being funded and conducted?

As confirmed by The Havering Daily, the entire initiative is being self-funded by Councillor Taylor. Over the next month, he plans to visit more than 2,000 homes to gather as much first-hand feedback as possible.

Residents are also encouraged to complete the survey online via www.davidtaylor.online/road-survey, ensuring even those not reached in person can participate.

What wider context is influencing road repairs in Havering?

Havering Council has received a £1.082 million grant for road repairs in 2025, the fifth-highest allocation across London boroughs. However, 25% of that funding is conditional, requiring the council to submit detailed reports on:

• How potholes are being repaired
• Overall road condition improvements
• The level of public disruption minimised
• Timely delivery of results by 30 June 2025

Failure to meet these criteria could result in a loss of funding.

As The Havering Daily reported in a separate article on 28 May 2025, this has created urgency for councillors and the borough to work efficiently, transparently, and in direct collaboration with local communities.

Why is preventative maintenance becoming a priority?

Increased weather extremes—particularly heavy rainfall and cold winters—are causing roads to deteriorate faster. Councillors and local campaigners, including Green Party coordinator Mark Whiley, have urged the council to prioritise preventative measures, especially in vulnerable areas like Gidea Park and Ardleigh Green.

Mark Whiley and others have pointed out that reactive repair work is not sufficient, and long-term strategies must be considered.

How does road condition affect safety and the environment?

According to a January 2025 report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), improving road conditions and reducing vehicle speeds directly lowers the rate and severity of accidents. Their data indicates:

• A 1 mph reduction in average speed reduces crash frequency by 5%
• 20 mph zones reduce the likelihood of pedestrian or cyclist fatalities by over 80%

Improved road surfaces also reduce fuel consumption, minimise vehicle wear, and help reduce carbon emissions, providing environmental and financial benefits.

How does Councillor Taylor’s approach align with national best practice?

RoSPA and government transport bodies encourage evidence-led, community-informed planning. Councillor Taylor’s grassroots campaign aligns well with this, giving residents a direct voice in shaping priorities.

His willingness to fund the survey himself and share data with other councillors suggests a collaborative, non-partisan approach that puts public interest first.