Somerset Council is facing a race against time to secure around £3m in funding for fixing potholes before a looming deadline. The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that local authorities in the South West, including Somerset Council, will share an additional £300M to repair and improve damaged roads. However, Somerset Council must report to the DfT by late June on the repairs undertaken to date, or risk losing a quarter of this funding.
The RAC estimates that pothole damage costs drivers an average of £600, with drivers encountering an average of six potholes every mile. A survey by the AA reveals that 96 per cent of drivers consider pothole repairs a top priority for central and local government.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasizes the urgency of fixing the country’s infrastructure, highlighting the impact on lives and avoidable vehicle repairs. With 75 per cent of the funding set to be provided upfront for immediate repairs, Somerset Council must demonstrate how the remaining 25 per cent will be utilized. This includes providing details on expenditure, pothole repairs, road conditions, and measures to minimize disruption caused by street works.
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP stresses the need for accountability, stating that councils will have to display progress to receive their funding boost. Somerset Council, though not specifying specific road stretches, has assured its commitment to meeting the government’s reporting deadline.
The additional funding holds significance as it could potentially address a substantial number of potholes in the county, with estimates suggesting that the allocated amount could repair between 137,625 and 212,790 potholes.