Call for fair deal on road repairs

The Local Government Association reported that the national funding for maintenance and potholes was down £400 million to £1.39 billion this year — a 22 per cent drop.

But this area’s Labour group says Rotherham has been hit by a 44 per cent reduction from £3.8 million to £2.1 million.

RMBC is part way through its £24 million investment in potholes over the four years to 2024, as announced in its 2020 budget.

Cllr Dominic Beck, cabinet member for transport, said: “We know road repairs is one of the top concerns for local people and, over the next six months, nearly 60 roads right across Rotherham that local councillors have wanted to prioritise will be resurfaced because of the extra local investment we’ve made available.

“We’re doing all we can locally, and hundreds of roads have been improved as a result.

“But it really sticks in my throat to see that once again the Conservatives have cut funding nationally, and hit Rotherham harder than most other places.

“If we just had a fair deal from the Government, we could do so much more. That’s why these calls on the government are so important.”

The LGA has called on the Government to use its spending review to plug the national £400 million gap — and commit to an extra £500 million annually.

LGA transport spokesperson Cllr David Renard said: “Councils are working hard to keep our roads safe and resilient, repairing potholes as quickly as they can.

“However, it would already take £10 billion and more than a decade to clear the current local roads repair backlog, with the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent cancellation of key planned works risking extending this backlog further.”