[visordown.com] - 200million extra to fix potholes

[Ninjette Newsbot]

AN EXTRA £200million is to be spent on fixing potholes, which have worsened during the winter’s torrential rain and flooding.

Councils will be able to apply for some of the fund to fix potholes in their area.

Chancellor George Osborne told Parliament the roads had ‘taken a battering,’ adding: ‘I’m making £200 million available which local authorities can bid for.’

Motoring groups say the extra cash is welcome but not enough.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation said: "A succession of bad weather, including the recent floods, has wrought havoc on our roads and any money to fill the potholes is welcome."

But he added: "The drip, drip of funding does not address the £10billion road maintenance backlog that councils themselves have identified.

"It is also disappointing that this money has to be bid for. This creates a bureaucratic burden and means not all councils and drivers will see the benefits."

Neil Greif, policy director for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “Every little helps and it will be welcomed in many areas hit by this year’s bad weather. With a £10 billion back-log in repairs however, it is only through consistent long term funding that the pothole problem can finally be fixed."

Yesterday’s Budget also included a freeze on fuel duty rises until September 2015.



Related Content

2014 Triumph Classics
Sepang MotoGP test times – Day 1
Provisional 2014 World Superbike calendar released
Honda Production Racer has ‘power problem’ says Hayden
2014 MotoGP calendar updated


Click here for full story...