The programme forms part of a package of new measures to help hard-working homes, businesses and farmers hit by the floods and was given the go-ahead at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday (12th February 2014).

As well as giving the green light to a £31m scheme to deliver 10 rail resilience projects to improve resilience to flooding, Mr Cameron announced the £30m funds for local authorities in England affected by the severe weather for road maintenance, including pothole repairs. This is on top of the £3.5m transport element of the £7m flood recovery package announced on 17th January 2014.

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: ‘We are facing exceptional weather conditions right now. We’re working with transport operators to make sure everything that can be done to reduce the impact of the storms and floods on our transport system and speed up recovery is being done. We’re also determined to boost the resilience of the transport network against future severe weather. The funding the Prime Minister has announced today (12th February 2014), along with the other measures we are putting in place, will help make this happen.’