Road repair funding cut by quarter
GOVERNMENT FUNDING to repair damaged roads in West Yorkshire has been slashed by more than a quarter for the coming year.
The County Councils Network says the reduction in funding across England means councils will “have no choice” but to cancel planned road maintenance projects.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority will receive £36.5 million to maintain roads in 2021-22, the Department for
Transport has announced. That is £13.9 million less than the £50.3 million (28%) provided in the current financial year. Across England, road maintenance funding has been cut by £400 million, with £1.1 billion to be handed out to councils and combined authorities. The funding includes £500 million to repair potholes, with £16.2 million going to West Yorkshire Combined Authority as part of its allocation.
But the County Councils Network, which represents county councils, says the pothole fund should not mask an overall reduction in maintenance funding. Coun Barry Lewis, economic growth spokesperson, said:
“Unless further funding is made available, our councils will have no choice but to reduce their roads maintenance work this coming year.”
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, added: “This can only lead to roads deteriorating further and being in a worse overall state than they are now.”
In addition, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will get £13.2 million - an increase of £102,000 - for transport improvement projects such as road safety schemes, cycle ways and bus lanes for 2021-22. A DfT spokesperson said: “We know high-quality local roads make a difference to people’s lives, which is why we have committed £1.125 billion to local roads maintenances for 2021-22.”
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