Sir Keir Starmer called on local councils to prioritize fixing potholes and to take action following the announcement of the government’s £1.6 billion budget for road maintenance. Each local authority in England will receive a portion of the budget for the upcoming financial year, which is £500 million more than the previous sum. The increase is expected to fix approximately seven million additional potholes.
Authorities in England have the power to use the money to identify which roads are in the greatest need of repair, and to implement immediate solutions. Investment allocations for the £1.6 billion include £327 million for local authorities in the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber; more than £372 million for local authorities in the East Midlands and West Midlands; £244 million for local authorities in the East of England; more than £322 million for local authorities in the South East and London; and over £300 million for local authorities in the South West.
Transport is a devolved matter in the UK, meaning that this particular budget only applies to England. The Department for Transport explained that it would withhold 25% of the £500 million increase as an incentive until authorities show that they are delivering. The government aims to ensure that the money is spent prudently and that roads are maintained in a way that prevents further potholes.
The Local Government Association was appreciative of the funding but requested that the government reconsider withholding a quarter of the uplift. The association stated that councils need more certainty about the funding, and it requested greater long-term investment.
Recent data from the RAC monitoring group indicates that English drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile. The average cost of fixing one pothole is £72 in England, according to a recent report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance. The LGA suggested that more than £16 billion would be required to address the backlog in road maintenance across the country
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