Opposition Conservative Councillors will attempt to re-instate the 28-day period for repairing potholes at next week’s budget after Labour confirmed they will be scrapping it in this year’s budget.
Labour-led Milton Keynes Council will immediately scrap the 28-day fix timeframe for repairing potholes and take £100k out of pothole repairs in 2019/20.
The move will leave more potholes for longer causing more vehicle damage and more insurance claims against the Council, and potentially costing the Council much more in the long run.
The news has come as the winter conditions have added to already poorly maintained roads across Milton Keynes.
In an attempt to keep the 28-day repair limit the Conservative Group has put forward an amendment to Labour’s budget to hold off these changes pending a full assessment of the impacts.
Conservative Group Finance Spokesperson Cllr Edith Bald said: “Whatever happened to Labou'rs Manifesto pledge, when they took over the Council in 2014, to repair pot holes within 14 days?! If this goes ahead, there is no question we should expect to see potholes, potholes and more potholes on our roads. Labour have failed to get repairs anywhere near acceptable limits and have a huge backlog. Anyone who drives anywhere in Milton Keynes will know exactly what I am talking about.
“And they don’t need to do this. To scrap such a basic Council service is bonkers when they are sitting on £160 million of reserves and they have received ring fenced funding from Central Government specifically for potholes. This isn’t about ‘cuts’ this is a political decision. ”
