Dangerous roads and uneven pavements are much more than a nuisance, they can result in serious tripping accidents for pedestrians and sometimes catastrophic accidents for cyclists and motorbike users. We are therefore delighted to see that funding to fix potholes across England will be boosted by £200 million.
The Chancellor said the Government’s Potholes Fund which previously provided £500 million a year to councils will be increased to £700 million in the 2023/24 financial year
The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £12.6 billion. Recent analysis by the Local Government Association showed Government funding for maintaining England’s motorways and major A roads was 31 times higher per mile than for repairing local roads last year.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “There won’t be a road user in the country who doesn’t dodge a pothole on a daily basis, so any extra money to help fill them in is welcome.”
However, it is worth remembering there are 190,000 miles of road in England alone so the additional £200 million is going to be thinly spread.
Defendant insurers have reported an 11% rise in pothole claims in the last year so everyone will be welcoming the extra investment.
If you or anyone you know has been involved in an accident then please contact Rhian Lowe on 01206 835269 or email [email protected]