The UK Labour Party has pledged to provide funding to councils to fix up to one million potholes annually in England, stating that it wants to put an end to the current “sticking plaster approach” to repairs. The initiative will financially support local leaders and provide multi-year funding settlements for the necessary road fixes. As we reported recently, the UK government intends to invest £8.3 billion in road repairs between this year and 2034. Labour’s plan would mean an additional £320 million allocated specifically for potholes in England over five years. To fund the additional pledge, the party would defer its plans for the A27 Arundel bypass in Sussex.
Labour said the cost of pothole damage was nearly £500 million last year, and the average repair bill was around £250. The party has also reiterated its commitment to tackle rising car insurance costs by ensuring regulators crack down on the causes of price rises.
Motoring groups have warned that potholes are becoming an increasingly serious problem, with roadside assistance firm the AA stating that they are considered the most important transport issue by drivers. Poor quality or defective roads have contributed to the deaths of twenty cyclists and the serious injury of 470 others in England between 2012 and 2022, according to an analysis by the PA news agency of Department for Transport figures.
The UK’s ruling Conservative Party recently pledged to introduce some of its £8.3 billion pothole repair budget sooner than planned in response to Labour’s plans. However, a Conservative spokesperson criticised Labour’s approach and said the party was sacrificing drivers for “its eco zealot agenda
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