People in the Isle of Man are a little happier with the state of the our roads than people in the UK are with theirs, if a survey’s results can be believed.

The government has published the results of a highways satisfaction survey from the UK’s National Highways and Transport Network.

While many people here moan about potholes, it’s a theme that’s echoed across the UK as council funding has been cut.

Here 50% of people were happy with highway maintenance. In the UK the figure was 49%.

In July 2018, 3,300 surveys were issued to random addresses across the island, asking for residents’ opinions on a range of topics including road condition and maintenance, the provision of bus and taxi services, congestion and accessibility.

A total of 982 responded.

Those responses have were analysed in order to show satisfaction levels in comparison with 113 local authorities across the UK.

The Isle of Man was the higher than anywhere in the UK for aspects of accessibility and tackling congestion.

When compared to the survey’s overall average, local satisfaction with bus services showed the highest results for all of the UK and Isle of Man.

The survey also highlighted areas where there is a demand for greater concentration of resources, including highway maintenance and facilities to help both walking and cycling.

The island’s residents had very low levels of satisfaction in respect of infrastructure and facilities for walking and cycling, ranking 111th out of 113 areas.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK said: ’These detailed results will allow the department to set benchmarks against which we can measure ourselves in the years ahead, as well as highlighting those areas of improvement and where there is clearly more work to be done.

’In particular, it was gratifying to see the positive response to accessibility as well as the class-leading ranking for public transport.

’We have already earmarked walking and cycling as priority areas, with Active Travel funding secured over the next four years, a review of the pedestrian environment already in place to identify problem areas plus new routes being established for walking and cycling. The survey is clear evidence that we have made the right decision to invest in these areas.

’Highway maintenance remains a hot topic, as the survey has confirmed.

’We are spending an additional £1.1m this year to improve roads, but we know there is much more to be done to address years of continuing under-investment.

’We now have a robust set of results to allow us to benchmark that performance, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the survey.’

The key figures in satisfaction ratings:

Accessibility: 75% (UK 70%).

Public transport 65% (UK 61%)

Walking and cycling 51% (UK 54%)

Traffic levels and congestion 62% (UK 43%)

Management of roadworks 50% (UK 51%)

Traffic management 57% (UK 56%)

Road safety 59% (UK 55%)

Highway maintenance 50% (UK 49%)

Taxi/minicab services 64% (UK 64%)