Repairs to Suffolk’s pot-holed roads are set for a major boost with the Government today due to announce £2.5million of extra funding to help with the work.
The county council has been inundated with complaints and reports of pot-holes, which have worsened with the severe winter weather.
Some drivers claim tyres and vehicles have been left damaged because of the poor road surfaces on some routes
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said Suffolk would receive £2.5m while Essex would gain £2.6m and Norfolk £3.4m.
Jane Storey, cabinet member for highways, transport and rural issues at Suffolk County Council, said: “This is such a relief and will help significantly after an exceptional winter.
“We have been trying to keep on top of the pot-holes but our resources are finite and this extra money will certainly help in carrying out work that needs to be done and to recompense for the extra costs already incurred.”
She said officers would be identifying the priority work needed in the weeks ahead.
The council’s reporting system had taken many extra calls – many of them about pot-holes but also other roads issues.
Ian Grundy, cabinet member for highways at Essex County Council, said: “This is great news and proof that the Government isn’t just listening to counties like Essex, it is actively helping us.
“Essex is set to benefit by £2.6 million which will considerably add to the £3 million the county council already plans to invest from April in pothole repairs, bringing that total up to £5.6 million. It’s a welcome boost to our resources.
“We already have 30 crews working on both emergency ‘make safe’ fixes and the longer-term and bigger jobs of permanent repairs across the county.
“Of course It will still take some time to work through the damage caused by the recent weather, so we are asking road users to be patient, but rest assured we are getting on with the job.”
The funds will come from £100 million national pot which the Government says will fill two million potholes and other storm damage and is on top of £75m already given to councils through the Pothole Action Fund as well as an additional £46 million boost for highways authorities announced just before Christmas.
Mr Grayling said: “People rely on good roads to get to work and to see friends or family.
“We have seen an unusually prolonged spell of freezing weather which has caused damage to our local roads.
“We are giving councils even more funding to help repair their roads so all road users can enjoy their journeys without having to dodge potholes.”
The poor state of Britain’s roads was highlighted last week in a report from the Asphalt Industries Association (AIA), which said that across the East of England 107,237 potholes were repaired last year.
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