EXTRA £10M TO FIX OUR CRUMBLING ROADS
Region to receive £10m to sort out potholed highways
MORE than £1 million in Government cash will be used to fix Stoke-on-trent’s crumbling road network.
Ministers confirmed an extra £43.5 million would be invested in fixing roads across the West Midlands, with Staffordshire receiving the highest figure in the region – £8.89 million.
They have also announced the Potteries has been short-listed for the ‘Transforming Cities Fund’.
Officials are putting together a business plan to bid for a slice of £860 million aimed at improving transport connections.
Roads Minister Jesse Noman said: “Potholes are a huge problem for all road users, and too often we see issues occurring at the same place time after time.
“That is why the Government is investing more in improving our roads than at any time before – £15 billion between 2015 and 2020, and a further £28.8 billion to 2025. Plus an immediate extra £420 million for potholes and local road maintenance just this year.” Stoke-on-trent City Council previously confirmed highways teams had repaired 7,102 road and pavement defects across the Potteries since April. The authority is aiming to fix another ten roads before Christmas, having already spent £4.1 million on repairs over the last few months. A further £2.2 million has been earmarked for forthcoming repairs.
Councillor Daniel Jellyman, left, cabinet member for transport, heritage and regeneration, said: “Our approach to road repairs has been to get on the front foot, because we know it is something our residents feel strongly about.
“We are investing £9 million ourselves and have repaired more than 9,000 road and pavement defects – such as potholes – since April.
“Resurfacing work has also been carried out on more than 70 roads, including some of the busiest roads and junctions in the city.
“While we have already made considerable progress with our own investment, we certainly welcome any top-up funding the Government can give us.”
Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, is calling for ‘long-term sustained funding’ to help the authority plan future repairs.
She said: “We welcome the additional funding for road repairs announced in the October Budget, which has now been allocated to each local authority area.
“What we would like to see is more long-term sustained funding to help us plan our future road maintenance programme.”
Driving instructor Stuart Johnson teaches pupils across the Potteries and Staffordshire.
Stuart, of Madeley, who has been an instructor for 23 years, said: “Improvements need to be carried out in Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire in equal measure.
“There has been a slight improvement, but there needs to be more done. I am now having to teach pupils about avoiding potholes when safe to do so.
“It seems to be a problem all over the country at the moment. It is welcome the Government has announced this money, and I suppose it is better late than never.”