'Get on' with fixing 'broken roads', Keir Starmer tells councils

Sir Keir Starmer has urged councils to “get on with the job” of fixing pothole-plagued roads, which he warned “can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs”.The prime minister made the comments as the Department for Transport (DfT) announced how much each local authority in England will receive to maintain roads in the next financial year.

The Treasury announced in the Budget in October that total local road maintenance funding in 2025/26 will be nearly £1.6 billion, representing a £500 million uplift compared with the previous 12 months.

The funding allocations include:

• More than £327 million for the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber.

• More than £372 million for the East Midlands and West Midlands.

• More than £244 million for the East of England.

• More than £378 million for local authorities in South East, South West, and London.

The increase is estimated to be enough to fix around seven million potholes.

Starmer said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.

“Through our Plan for Change we’re determined to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking people and improve living standards.

“That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again – with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”

The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £16.3 billion.

RAC figures show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile on roads in England and Wales and the cost per incident of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500.

Meanwhile, the AA found tackling the issue is a priority for 96% of motorists.

The DfT said it will make sure highway authorities “spend the money wisely”, collect accurate data and deliver “proactive maintenance” before potholes start to form.

A quarter of the increased funding will be held back until authorities have “shown that they are delivering”, the DfT added.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed confidence that the “really significant investment” will result in drivers noticing an improvement in road conditions.

“This is massive," she said. “It’s up to councils how they use the money. They can fill potholes, they can resurface roads, they can improve pavements, they can repair bridges." she added

“We will be asking councils to report back to us about how they spent that money. I’m confident that the public will start to see an improvement in the state of the roads."

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AA president Edmund King described the funding as a “significant cash injection”.

He said: “With most journeys starting and ending on local roads, it is vital to restore the structural integrity of the streets we live on.

“We urge councils to focus on permanent and innovative repairs rather than adopting a ‘patch and run’ approach.”

The Local Government Association, which represents councils, was approached for a comment.

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