£100m for councils to repair potholes

Funds distributed based on amount and condition of roads the authority is responsible for

Councils are to be given £100m extra to spend on repairing potholes, using savings the Department for Transport made earlier in the financial year.

The severe weather at the end of last year has left many local roads in a poor condition. Every local authority has a responsibility to properly maintain their roads, including planning winter resilience measures, but this exceptional weather has caused significant additional damage.

The funds will be distributed to English local authorities based on the amount and condition of roads the authority is responsible for rather than councils needing to apply for the funding.

In order to qualify for this extra funding and to promote greater transparency and accountability, local authorities will need to publish information on their website by 30 September 2011 showing where this money has been spent.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I am determined to see the winter damage to our roads fixed as quickly as possible and we will be working with councils to make sure that happens."

"This money should make a real difference to the millions of drivers who are fed up with having to continually battle against dangerous potholes, giving them safer and smoother journeys."

Further information:
Department for Transport