Roads budget cuts ‘putting people at risk’

Unite has hit out at cuts to the budget for structural roads maintenance, saying they will put users at risk and cost more in the long run.

The union said the budget has fallen from £131m to £54m in the last three years.

It said cuts have led to worsening conditions on the roads, including a “dramatic” increase in overgrown verges and hedges, and potholes not being filled in.

The warning comes as UTV revealed Stormont has paid out almost £10m to people injured on the roads in Northern Ireland since 2011.

Gareth Scott from Unite said: “These management corner-cutting practices are a false economy but are necessitated by the harsh budgetary reductions being imposed by the NI Executive.

“In the meantime our roads are left susceptible to rapid deterioration threatening the lives and safety of road users.

“Our members are deeply unhappy at being forced into these practices – Stormont must reconsider its approach to funding roads maintenance.”