Government urged to prioritise pothole repairs

MP’s have called for the government to front-load a five-year spending plan to tackle potholes.

The Filling the Gap report, produced by the Transport Committee, said a lack of funding was the primary problem with councils having to divert money from roads to other priorities.

Since 2010, council spending power, including funding from central government and local taxes, has dropped by almost 30%.

In his Budget last October, Chancellor Philip Hammond promised an extra £420m for councils in England to deal with potholes, among other road-related issues, but the transport committee said this is still not enough funding, with deteriorating roads resulting in greater cost to taxpayers – and quick-fixes often proving more expensive in the long-term.

Lillian Greenwood MP, chair of the Transport Committee, said, ‘Local roads are the arteries of our villages, towns and cities, but most people won’t have to go further than the local shops to spot a pothole that poses a risk of injury or damage.

‘Local authorities are in the invidious position of having to rob Peter to pay Paul. Cash-strapped councils are raiding their highways and transport budgets to fund core services.

‘Almost every journey begins and ends on local roads: the DfT must work with the public and local authorities to make them safe.’

Meanwhile, Christopher Snelling, head of UK policy at FTA, said, ‘As the business organisation representing the logistics sector, FTA fully supports the Transport Select Committee’s calls for a five-year pothole repair fund; the road network has been subject to chronic underinvestment for many years.

‘Taxes on UK road transport are the highest in Europe, yet our roads continue to be underfunded; HGVs alone pay enough tax to pay for more than 90% of the current amount spent on road maintenance in the UK. Large potholes are an all too common sight – costing businesses in the logistics industry millions of pounds a year in vehicle repair and hire replacement. Potholes are dangerous to cyclists as well as damaging to vehicles; it is ridiculous that we still have this problem in today’s Britain.

‘While this funding would play a vital role in improving the nation’s road network, it would not offer a complete solution; estimates show it would cost £9.79bn and take 10 years for highways departments in England and Wales to catch up on the road repairs needed. This investment must be viewed as part of a more comprehensive, long-term road improvement strategy.’