Photo: London Street
Local Councillors have welcomed the announcement by the Coalition government of details of Pot Hole repair funding for each of the next six years. A record £6 billion will be spent on tackling potholes and improving local roads between 2015 and 2021, the government has just announced.
The total investment, amounting to £976 million per year, is enough to fix around 18 million potholes across the country. Sefton Council will receive £2.9 million this coming year with similar amounts in the following five years.
Local Lib Dem Councillor Tony Dawson urges local people to use the internet to report any significant problems which they encounter both on local roads and when they venture forth across the country.
“I have recently obtained results on the M58 near Skelmersdale and, I observed and reported further problems with that motorway’s surface near Junction 5. I have also reported to Lancashire County Council the increasingly-serious state of the Birkdale to Halsall road.
In Southport itself, there are dozens of roads requiring serious attention. Duke Street, Sussex Road and Park Crescent/Park Road junction to name just a handful. And inadequate patched repairs to ‘sink holes’ across the town such as those in Hawkshead Street, Saxon Road and Westcliffe Road are bubbling through again. In the last round of pot hole repair work, the lion’s share went to Bootle and Central Sefton. I urge local residents who experience problems to tell their local councillors as well as the council so that we can push for Southport to get its fair share of road repair funds.”
This is the first time ever that local councils have been given locked-in funding over such a length of time, which should help them plan ahead and save money for the taxpayer.
Southport MP John Pugh said:
“Poorly maintained local roads, blighted by potholes, are a menace to all road users, particularly during the festive period as people travel to see family and friends.”
“It is vital we have good quality roads. The Coalition Government has already taken strong action by spending £1 billion more on local roads maintenance than was spent by Labour.”
“The £6 billion funding announcement should put an end to short term fixes and help provide a transport network fit for the 21st century.”
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