It’s crunch time as MK gets big slice of nationwide budget to fix thousands of holes.
The anxiety, horror and financial cost of driving into a pothole look set to be eased for Milton Keynes motorists following today’s Government announcement that the city will get an extra £2,806,000 to fix them next year.
The funding should pay for repairs to more than 38,000 cracks, dips and caverns that blight the area’s road network, destroying thousands of vehicles every year.
New figures from the RAC motoring organisation show that drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and the cost of pothole damage to vehicles now averages £500.
More severe repairs bring considerably higher bills to beleaguered drivers, who have become increasingly fed up with the state of the nation’s highways. According to the AA roadside recovery group, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced today that nearly £1.6 billion would be set aside to fix potholes across England for next year, helping councils repair the equivalent of seven million holes in 2025.
“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,” she said.
“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.
“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.”
Councillor Akash Nayee, cabinet member for Public Realm at MKCC added: “With this new funding Milton Keynes City Council can fill in an additional 38,832 potholes next year – that will make a huge difference to local people every day of the year.”
Drivers are encouraged to report potholes to their local council through a dedicated Gov.uk page: www.gov.uk/report-pothole.
