Local authorities in England must show how they are improving roads and tackling what the government describes as a “pothole plague” or lose out on millions of pounds in funding. The Department for Transport said councils will start to get their share of a £1.6bn road maintenance pot from mid-April. However, it said English local authorities must publish annual reports detailing progress on pothole fixing or face losing a quarter of their full allocation. The Local Government Association said the government should focus on preventative measures rather than “reactively” fixing potholes, which is more expensive. All local authorities who are eligible will get 75% of the extra £500m promised in last autumn’s budget, with the remaining 25% being withheld. Funding that is held back will be redistributed to councils that have proven to have made the required progress. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said broken roads were “not only risking lives but also cost working families, drivers and businesses hundreds – if not thousands of pounds – in avoidable vehicle repairs”. He added that councils have the cash to get on with the job. According to data from the RAC, there are six potholes for every mile of road in England and Wales. The DfT said councils’ road maintenance progress reports must be published by the end of June and say how much they are spending, how many potholes they have filled, how they are minimising roadwork disruption, and what their long-term road maintenance plans are.
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