Call for a long-term solution to potholes problem

THE DEPARTMENT for Transport has pressed the Treasury for a longer-term cash boost to help highways authorities fix potholes.

Subject to the outcome of the Chancellor’s spending review, the department said a multi-year funding settlement could “support prudential borrowing by providing local authorities with greater budget certainty”.

The comments come in response to a report by the Commons transport select committee which urged the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Treasury to help squeezed local authorities deal with growing road maintenance costs.

The committee published a report in July proposing a “frontloaded, long-term funding settlement” for councils to tackle a backlog of poorly-maintained roads.

Labour’s Lilian Greenwood claimed the committee, which she chairs, will carry on lobbying for “proper funding” for roads maintenance.

She said: “A simple visit to the shops or the regular journey to work can result in injury or damage to someone’s vehicle from the plague of potholes on our local roads.

“This is an issue that affects everyone – pedestrians, cyclists and drivers – every day.

“We therefore welcome the commitment from the department to work across government on giving local councils the cash and long-term funding certainty they need to tackle the effects on roads of years of neglect.

Darren Rodwell, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, called for a fiveyear funding allocation, adding: “Councils are on the side of all road users and are working hard to try to keep our roads safe and resilient, and despite significant funding pressures are fixing a pothole every 17 seconds.

“The Government’s infrastructure strategy needs to provide stable, devolved infrastructure budgets to councils, in the same way as Highways England and Network Rail. Providing councils with a five-year funding allocation would mean they can invest in road maintenance and other infrastructure projects.”