The government has confirmed it will pour £8.3bn into filling potholes on the country’s creaking roads over the next 11 years in one of the biggest ever resurfacing programmes.
Each local authority in England will receive £150m this financial year, followed by another £150m for 2024/25, with the remainder allocated through to 2034.
Councils can use their share of the money to identify which local roads are in most need of repair and deliver the improvements.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Our £8.3 billion boost to repair roads across the country shows that we’re on the side of drivers.
“Today’s biggest ever funding uplift for local road improvements is a victory for all road users, who will enjoy smoother, faster and safer trips – as we use redirected HS2 funding to make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
Michelle Gardner, deputy policy director at Logistics UK said any investment to improve the roads was welcomed by hauliers, who have faced significant bills for repairs caused by pothole damage – on average £575.74 for an HGV.
However, she added: “Given the size of the roads repair backlog and that logistics businesses pay £5 billion a year in fuel duty and vehicle excise duty, the lack of urgency to implement plans is disappointing.
“Our sector wants to see this new funding spent more quickly, to get our roads back into a good state, and more funding allocated after that.
“We want to see sustainable, long-term funding for local authorities to address the pothole problem – rather than being dependent on political cycles.”
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