Investment has been announced to tackle the potholes that are a frequent sight on English roads, but there is a catch for councils to keep the money
The investment will consist of £1.6bn spread across all English councils, however, these local authorities will be liable to lose their share if they cannot provide evidence of adequate pothole spending.
The investment includes a £500m, which they claim is enough to fill 7m potholes per year.
Proof of pothole spending will increase transparency for the public
The funding will be issued to councils from mid-April, but proof of pothole spending must be published as of today, 24 March 2025. The reports must be annual, and demonstrate both progress and confidence in the work undertaken.
If councils do not meet these expectations, they will lose 25% of the investment (£125m).
The first report must be published by 30 June 2025, with details on pothole spending, the number of potholes filled, and what percentage of roads under their authority are in what condition. Measures taken to minimise disruption and spending on longer-term preventative maintenance must also be demonstrated.
By the end of October, it will also be required to demonstrate that communities have a say on what work is being undertaken and where via a new dedicated online portal allowing them to report pothole roads to their local council.
A new road project has also been announced
Alongside this announcement is the first details of a new National Highways scheme for the delivery and maintenance of motorways and major A-roads.
The scheme will include hurrying the A428 Black Cat scheme in Cambridgeshire, improving the A47 in Norwich, and improving the M3 J9 scheme in Hampshire.
Prime minister, 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. Fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on is central to delivering national renewal, improving living standards and securing Britain’s future through our Plan for Change.
“Not only are we investing an additional £4.8bn to deliver vital road schemes and maintain major roads across the country to get Britain moving, next month we start handing councils a record £1.6bn to repair roads and fill millions of potholes across the country.
“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.”
Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “After years of neglect we’re tackling the pothole plague, building vital roads and ensuring every penny is delivering results for the taxpayer.
“The public deserves to know how their councils are improving their local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing 25% of their £500m funding boost.
“Our Plan for Change is reversing a decade of decline and mending our pothole-ridden roads which damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe.”
