Pothole-related breakdowns up 11% after roads cash falls

VEHICLE breakdowns linked to potholes have jumped by 11 per cent in a year following a slump in spending on local roads, figures show.

The RAC was called to 2,830 vehicles with faults that were probably caused by poor quality road surfaces between October and December last year, compared with 2,547 in the same period in 2016.

The motoring organisation warned that the condition of many roads is ‘hanging in the balance’. Driving into potholes can damage suspension springs, shock absorbers and wheels.

The RAC said road quality has declined over the past year and a half. But councils said they are not getting enough money from the Government to repair potholes on local roads and are often forced to carry out short-term fixes. The Local Government Association said councils need £12billion for road repairs.

Last week official figures showed that councils are prioritising major roads with their funding from central government.

Spending on local roads fell by 23 per cent to £1.87billion a year between 2011 and last year. But councils increased spending on the major roads they manage by a fifth to £1.43billion over the same period. The Department for Transport said it is spending a record £23billion on improving the road network between 2015 and 2021.