Councils Risk Losing Cash For Not Fixing Potholes

The government has told councils in the HFM region they must publish data on how many potholes they have fixed or risk losing their share of cash for mending roads.

From the middle of next month, Leicestershire County Council, North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council will start to receive their allocation of the £1.6bn for fixing roads across the country.

But in order to get the full amount, all councils in England with responsibility for highways must publish annual reports on how many potholes they have filled, what percentage of their roads are in what condition and how they are minimising disruption – or see funding withheld.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “The broken roads we inherited are not only risking lives but also cost working families, drivers and businesses hundreds – if not thousands of pounds – in avoidable vehicle repairs.

“British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends with us.

“We’ve done our part by handing councils the cash and certainty they need – now it’s up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they’re delivering for their communities.”