This is an ultra low cost method of repair. The ruts are filled with large angular stone as soon as they form deep enough to become a problem, between about 15 and 25cms.

Stone like this costs about £16 ton. The material for repair can cost as little as £1-30 per metre.

Typically only about 5% of byways need attention, and then often only about 5 - 10% of the lengths of those are in a poor state.

This is a busy form use track and more frequent attention may be required. On a byway used mainly be recreational use a few dozen times p.a. such a repair would last indefinitely.

It is important that such repairs are done at a suitable time of the year, when very wet the stones will disperse into the mud, and the actions of repair may cause further damage.

This fine example of a firmed road with large angular stone.

The interstices have filled with mud to allow it to green up, and locks the stone in place. This carries a high level of agricultural traffic at certain times of the year (mainly winter), and is very robust.

An expensive, but totally unsuitable type of repair. This was on the Ridgeway NT, but the 'stone' is a water logged gravel, which moves under wheel or hoof when wet. This now presents a substantial trip hazard, inviting claims!

This shows a culvert cut away showing the total lack of any firm material. It is a time bomb waiting to deteriorate in 3 to 5 years. A sad waste of money, on an ancient road. Why not use traditional methods -they worked well under the arduous condition of heavy steel rimmed wheels and cart horses, with much lighter, softer pneumatic tyre use, it will be virtually indestructible.