£15m BOOST TO HELP REPAIR ROADS
A £15million war chest has been set aside to help fix roads in Nuneaton and Bedworth - including more than £1m to repair potholes.
The Department for Transport says the funding is part of the government’s economic plan to “build a country that works for everyone”.
The money will be spent on improving transport links and better maintaining roads across the borough and the rest of Warwickshire, helping people access work, school and shops.
Warwickshire County Council will receive £11.5m for general road maintenance, £1.016m for pothole repairs and £2.469m to help reduce congestion and boost access to public transport.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “Roads play a significant part in everyday life linking people with jobs and businesses with customers, which is why this government is investing record amounts improving and maintaining highways across the country to help motorists. “The funding we have allocated today is focused on relieving congestion and providing important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future - helping to build an economy that works for everyone.” Meanwhile, the West Midlands Combined Authority, which covers Coventry, will receive a total of £21.497m, including £1.223m for pothole repairs.
Councils will also be able to bid for a portion of £75m which has been set aside to repair local highway infrastructure, like lighting and bridges.
The state of the region’s roads has been well documented in the past.
In October 2016 the RAC Foundation said that there was “inadequate funding” available for local road maintenance.
Figures from the foundation show that in 2015, 21 drivers in Coventry received a total of £3,664 in pothole compensation, averaging £174, and 46 drivers in Warwickshire received £25,208 with payments averaging £548.
The funding we have allocated is focused on relieving congestion and providing important upgrades. Andrew Jones