MP: We need more cash to fix roads
HALTON’S MP has once more voiced his concerns in Westminster over the state of disrepair on roads and motorways and accused the Government of not granting enough funds for councils to bring them up to standard.
Derek Twigg spoke in the House Of Commons to Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Robert Jenrick on Tuesday, February 27, during a debate on road and rail investment.
Mr Jenrick had earlier answered a question from Southport MP Damien Moore about the £31bn National Productivity Investment Fund, which he said is helping to improve passenger journeys, roads, broadband connections and delivering more homes.
Following this, Mr Twigg said the fund is ‘not doing anything’ to stop disrepair on roads and motorways. ●
He said: “The Government are simply not putting in enough money for local councils and the national agency to make sure that repairs on motorways and local roads are brought up to standard.
“We now have a greater crisis than we have seen for some time.”
In response, Mr Jenrick said he did not agree with Mr Twigg’s analysis.
He said: “The Government have put a ● record amount of investment into our roads and rail.
“As the Chancellor announced in the autumn, there is further money for transport projects in the North.
“There is £13bn in total to improve transport across the North Of England.”
Earlier in February, Mr Twigg asked for urgent debate in Westminster to discuss the state of roads and potholes on highways including motorways.
He said: “Anyone who drives on the motorways will see many potholes, which are very dangerous.”
But though leader of the House Of Commons Andrea Leadsom said Mr Twigg was ‘right’ to raise the issue of potholes, she recommended he speak to the Backbench Business Committee regarding the matter.
Ms Leadsom added: “It is a big frustration for all of us as individuals and in our constituency surgeries – there are lots of complaints about potholes.
“The Government have invested significant sums in dealing with potholes.”