Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today announced that a record £6 billion will be spent on tackling potholes and improving local roads between 2015 and 2021. The investment amounts to £976 million a year, enough to fix around 18 million potholes across the country. It is the first time councils have been given locked-in funding over this length of time, which will help them plan ahead and save money for the taxpayer.
The Government has allocated £488,548,000 to the Yorkshire and Humber region over the six year period. Of that total, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council will get £57,663,000.
Commenting on the additional funding, Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, said, “This is great news for motorists in my constituency. Roads in Beverley and Holderness were neglected under the last Labour Government. This Government has started to tackle the problem of potholes in this Parliament and I am delighted that further progress will now be made in the next five years.
“Potholes are dangerous and inconvenient for all road users and hamper people’s journeys. This announcement will also be a great help to businesses who rely on well-maintained roads. I welcome that this Government is not just embarking on the biggest road building programme since the 1970s, but is looking after our existing road network as well.”
Patrick McLoughlin said, “Roads play a significant part in everyday life. Poorly maintained local roads, blighted by potholes, are a menace to all road users, particularly during the festive period as people travel to see family and friends. This government has already taken strong action by spending £1 billion more on local roads maintenance than was spent in the previous parliament.
“The £6 billion funding I am announcing today will put an end to short term fixes and will mean we have committed £10 billion between 2010 and 2021. This huge investment is part of our long term economic plan to ensure we have a transport network fit for the 21st century.”
