Bradford Council to get new funding to tackle potholes

From mid-April, local authorities will start to receive their share of GBP1.6 billion in highway maintenance funding, including GBP48 million for the Yorkshire and the Humber. This includes Bradford Council. In order to get the full amount, Councils in England must now publish annual progress reports - including details on how many potholes they have filled.

But local authorities which fail to do so will see 25 per cent of their pothole funding, which is GBP12m for Yorkshire and the Humber, withheld. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport at Bradford Council, told the Telegraph & Argus: "We're delighted the Government is putting extra funding into highways maintenance and already publish a lot of data on our work through public papers discussed at our area and scrutiny committees. "We've already met the roads minister to discuss the detail of these proposals and, of course, are happy to publish additional information so we can draw down the full amount available to improve the quality of our roads, tackling the number of potholes in the district."

The T&A asked Bradford Council how much money it had been allocated as part of the new Government funding, but a figure has not been provided at this stage. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. "That ends with us.

"We've done our part and handed Councils the cash and certainty they need - now it's up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they're delivering for their communities." It comes as figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and pothole damage to cars costs an average GBP600 to fix. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers.

The Local Government Association has said that the cost of the local road repairs backlog is close to GBP17bn - and called on the Government to give Councils "sufficient, long-term funding certainty".

Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has also unveiled GBP4.8bn funding for 2025-26 for National Highways to deliver critical road schemes and maintain motorways and major A-roads.