MINISTERS are launching a crackdown to name and shame councils failing to fix Britain’s pot hole plague.
Drivers in England will be able to see how well their local authority is doing through a new traffic light rating system from today.
They will be rated as red, amber or green based on road conditions and how effectively they are spending Government funding.
Most are amber but Bolton, Leicestershire, Suffolk and Kensington and Chelsea were all given the worst “red” rating.
They will get special help through a £300,000 programme.
Labour has committed to providing a total of £7.3 billion for local road maintenance funding for the next four years.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Sun on Sunday: “We’re turning the tide on our decaying roads, increasing investment to £7.3 billion over the next four years to give councils the funding and certainty they need to fix potholes properly and crucially, prevent them forming in the first place.
“And it’s use it or lose it. My message to councils is clear – we’ve given you the long-term funding you’ve been calling for, now we expect you to get on with the work to deliver pothole-free roads.”
The average vehicle repair bill for pot hole damage is around £320 – with some motorists paying over £1,000 last year.
Richard Holden, Tory shadow Transport Secretary, said: “The Labour Government are waging war on their own councils.
“It is refreshing to have Labour ministers laying bare just how badly Labour-run councils handle basic road repairs.”
“If you live in Bolton, Waltham Forest, Greenwich, or any of the other Labour councils up for election in May, this map is the warning label. Conservative-run councils like Hillingdon and Essex get on with fixing roads.”
By Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
WE are shining the light of transparency on the work of councils to fix roads and end the pothole plague.
For the first time, members of the public will be able to see how effectively their councils are spending the record investment we are giving them to fix potholes, resurface roads and bring pride back to our communities.
Today I am unveiling a new traffic light rating system for every council in the country.
All councils in England will be graded red, amber, or green based on the condition of their roads, whether they are adopting best practice, and how effectively they spend their record Government funding.
The map will mean drivers can see how their council is performing and allow the Government to target support to those who need extra help, so we can be sure road users will see and feel the difference in their local area.
For too long drivers have paid the price for historic underinvestment in our roads, facing costly repairs and disrupted journeys because potholes were left to worsen or patched up only to re-appear months later.
We’re turning the tide on our decaying roads, increasing investment to £7.3 billion over the next four years to give councils the funding and certainty they need to fix potholes properly and crucially, prevent them forming in the first place.
I’m making sure councils can move away from short-term repairs to long-term maintenance, saving drivers money but also making sure taxpayer money is being spent effectively.
And it’s use it or lose it. This money is incentivised – so if councils don’t spend all of it on roads, and tell us how they’re doing, they don’t get the full amount, and we’ll divide it up amongst those who do.
People expect change, and that is what we are determined to deliver. It’s as simple as that.
My message to councils is clear – we’ve given you the long-term funding you’ve been calling for, now we expect you to get on with the work to deliver pothole-free roads.
I want Sun on Sunday readers to know that we’re getting on with the long-overdue work to make every day journeys smoother and safer, saving you money and restoring pride in your local area.
