Government’s new pot hole pledge

Councils will receive £1.6 billion in funding to repair roads and fill potholes in 2025, the Government has announced. The investment – an increase of nearly 50% on local road maintenance funding from last year – is estimated to be enough to fix the equivalent of more than seven million extra potholes in 2025 to 2026.

The Government says fixing roads and filling potholes not only makes roads safer, but also improves journey times and saves drivers money from avoidable repairs.

Sir Keir Starmer, prime minister, said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.

“That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again – with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”