Pothole Payout

Britain has suffered some devastating weather in the last few months, and the government are making a sizeable effort to save our roads. However despite the fact that motorists will now benefit from the £200 million fund which is to be used to fix potholes and road surfaces, Councils fear this just simply isn’t enough.

Thanks to the campaigning of MP’s around the UK, Chancellor George Osbourne announced to Parliament that he would be setting aside an extra £140 million to repair the damage done to roads in the recent weather. Osbourbne singled out the MP for Nothampton North who he quoted being, “been ‘a persistent campaigner for resources to repair the pot-holes in his constituency and across the country.”

Chancellor Osbourne also agreed to attribute £270 million to support ‘the raising of debt finance for the Mersey Gateway Bridge.’ The North could benefit too with the government offering to extend the feasibility study on improvements to the A1 from Newcastle to Scotland if Scotland match funding.

Wales will be able to investigate improvements into the M4, and funds will also be invested into the Greater Cambridge enterprise partnership’s transport plans which are set to be worth up to £500 million

The director of the RAC Foundation Professor Stephen Glaister was quoted saying, “A succession of bad weather, including the recent floods, has wrought havoc on our roads and any money to fill the potholes is welcome.

But he added: 'The drip, drip of funding does not address the £10billion road maintenance backlog that councils themselves have identified.
‘It is also disappointing that this money has to be bid for. This creates a bureaucratic burden and means not all councils and drivers will see the benefits.’

However, the money invested may still not be enough to solve Britain’s road issues. Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s economy and transport board ,Tony Ball said, ‘We are pleased that the Government has responded to our calls for extra funding to tackle potholes.’

But he added; ‘This announcement does not go anywhere near far enough.

'We urge the Government to provide a full and comprehensive package, including the resurfacing of roads, rather than funding in dribs and drabs.’

Mr Ball said: ‘We are facing a 42per cent increase in traffic on local roads by 2040 and there is a £10.5billion backlog of road repairs. The situation is getting worse every year because of a £500 million shortfall.’

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