by Joe Jeffrey
Road organisations call for more funding as part of government’s road plans
The Government has announced an investment of £50 million in an attempt to rid the UK’s roads of potholes over the next 12 months in a move which has seen the Local Government Association (LGA) warn more 230 times the amount is required.
Local authorities will receive a total of £50 million for the next five years, with the each designated amount being determined by the size of the road network within each jurisdiction. The funding forms part of £250 million ‘pothole action fund’ which was included in last month’s budget.
The LGA has hit back at the government’s proposal, despite indicating it was a “step in the right direction,”describing the move as a “frustrating cycle” which will mean pothole will only be patched up on inadequate roads as opposed to full resurfacing projects being competed.
Transport Spokesman for the LGA, councillor Martin Tett, said: “While £50 million is a step in the right direction, councils need more than 230 times that amount to cover the £11.8 billion cost to bring our roads up to scratch.”
Meanwhile the £50 million cash injection was described as a “drop in the ocean” by the AA’s president, Edmund King, and the RAC’s chief engineer, David Bizley, warned that the local road network would remain “doomed” as the weak link in transport infrastructure until preventative maintenance is prioritised.
A breakdown of jurisdictions receiving part of the £50 million can be found below:
North East
Total allocation: £3m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 58,000
North West
Total allocation: £6.4m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 121,000
Yorkshire and The Humber
Total allocation: £5.2m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 98,000
East Midlands
Total allocation: £5.6m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 106,000
West Midlands
Total allocation: £5.7m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 108,000
East of England
Total allocation: £7.2m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 136,000
South East
Total allocation: £8.3m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 157,000
South West
Total allocation: £8.4m
Estimated number of potholes fixed: 159,000
For a more comprehensive breakdown as to how the money will be spent, click here.
