Lib Dems Commit £300m Annually to Fill 1.2 Million Potholes
The Liberal Democrats have announced a new 'Pothole Pledge', committing £300 million annually to address the pothole issue across the country.
This initiative, revealed after the release of the party's latest election manifesto, aims to fill approximately 1.2 million potholes each year by reallocating funds from other road-building projects.
The party highlights that the current ‘postcode lottery’ means some councils take up to 18 months to repair potholes. By channelling funds directly to local councils, the Lib Dems believe they can ensure more timely and effective road maintenance.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated, “Only the Liberal Democrats have a real plan to fix the state of our roads by giving the money to local councils, who know their roads and are best placed to fix them.”
Although the party's manifesto did not specify a commitment to potholes, it did mention increasing the road budget for local councils to maintain existing infrastructure, including roads, pavements, and cycleways.
In comparison, the Labour Party has promised to repair an additional one million potholes annually if elected. However, neither party has confirmed whether they will continue the Conservative's plan to allocate the £8.3 billion redirected from HS2 for local road repairs.
RAC policy head Simon Williams commented on the pledge, stating, “Without this sum, which itself is only enough to resurface 3% of all England’s council-run roads, the Lib Dems’ promised £300m won’t even scratch the surface of the UK’s pothole problem.”
Williams emphasized that simply filling potholes in the worst-affected areas isn't sufficient. He advocated for long-term funding certainty and preventative measures, such as surface dressing and resurfacing deteriorated roads, to address the root causes of pothole issues.
The RAC has consistently urged the government to allocate a portion of fuel duty funds to help restore roads to a fit-for-purpose condition.
According to the latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) report, over £16 billion is required to clear the backlog of local road repairs in England and Wales, with more than half of local roads having less than 15 years of structural life remaining.
Recent research disclosed today shows a significant increase in council payouts for pothole damage last year.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Green Insurer revealed that 6,243 motorists received compensation for vehicle damage caused by potholes or poor road conditions—an 82% increase from the previous year and more than double the 3,043 payouts in 2019.
The total compensation paid by the 50 councils responding to the FOI amounted to £1.1 million last year.
By implementing the Pothole Pledge, the Liberal Democrats aim to tackle the pressing issue of road maintenance and provide a more reliable and efficient solution for local councils to repair and maintain the nation's roads.
