Politics

Councils to miss out on £375m to fix potholes next year as funding cut back


Councils will lose out on £375 million of funding to fix potholes next year, new figures have revealed. 

The cash promised to local authorities by the Government to repair damage on roads across the country has been cut from £1.5bn in 2020/21 to £1.125bn the following financial year.

Pothole funding will be cut by an average 23%. Yorkshire will see the steepest drop of 28%. 

Total spending on roads maintenance will drop by an average of 22%. 

It comes just weeks after the Chancellor urged people to “enjoy” National Pothole Day “before they’re all gone” and days after ministers boasted about funding given to councils this year – despite it being billions short of what is required.



Pothole funding will be cut by 23%

Independent experts have found it will take 11 years and £11bn to clear the backlog. 

Jim McMahon MP, Labour ’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said: “It appears the Government is trying to quietly scale back its promises to councils and do them out of the cash they desperately need. 

“Local authorities are being forced into economically illiterate tax hikes while motorists are left to contend with problems that will take more than a decade to fix.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The Government conducted a one-year Spending Review on 25 November which rightly prioritised the response to Covid-19, support jobs and supporting families at this incredibly difficult time.

“Funding for pothole fixing and road maintenance is still very significant. 

“The Government committed £1.125 billion to local roads maintenance in 2021-22, including this £500 million allocated [last week] from the Potholes Fund.”





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