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Extra cash for roads enough to fill in 124,204 potholes
23/12/2024
But the County Council Highways Chief warns its not enough
The government will provide Oxfordshire County Council with an additional £8,975,000 for road repairs in the county next year.
That’s enough to fill in 124,204 potholes, but the county’s Highways Chief says its not enough to address the scale of the problem.
On Friday the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, announced nearly £1.6 billion of funding for road repairs in a move aimed at saving drivers hundreds of pounds in repairs.
Figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and the cost of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500on average, with more severe repairs costing considerably more. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers.
Banbury’s MP Sean Woodcock MP said: “People in Oxfordshire are tired of navigating the pothole epidemic that exploded under the Conservatives – but Labour is taking action. With this new funding Oxfordshire County Council can fill in an additional 124,204 potholes next year – that will make a huge difference to local people every day of the year.
“Earlier this year this country voted for change. We voted for a government that would deliver on the things that matter to the every day lives of working people – and that is what Labour is delivering. It will take time to turn this country around, but the work of change has begun, and next year we will see real evidence of that change on local streets as potholes get filled in and we get this country back on track. “
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: “Potholes have plagued motorists for far too long, but today’s record investment will start to reverse a decade of decline on our country’s roads.
“Millions will drive home for Christmas today, but too many will have to endure an obstacle course to reach their loved ones. Potholes damage cars, and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe. We are investing £1.6bn to fix up to seven million more potholes next year.
“This government is firmly on the side of drivers. Every area of England will get extra cash to tackle this problem once and for all. We have gone beyond our manifesto commitment to back motorists and help raise living standards in every part of the country.”
But whilst Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, welcomed the extra money he warned it wasn’t enough.
He said: “Any new investment into highway maintenance is welcome. However, all areas of England require vastly more investment to clear the backlog of road repair work that exists.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam