The Transport Committee has today welcomed a commitment by the Department for Transport (DfT) to put pressure on the Treasury for a longer-term funding settlement, which councils can then use to tackle the plague of potholes on local roads.

The Transport Committee and the Department for Transport are putting pressure on the Treasury for long-term funding to tackle the pot hole blight

The pledge to work across government to make the case for a long-term funding plan, is contained in the Government response to the Committee’s report Local roads funding and maintenance: filling the gap, published in July.

The report proposed a front-loaded, long-term funding settlement for councils to tackle the historic backlog of poorly maintened roads and to plan confidently for the future. In addition to signalling support on key funding and expenditure recommendations, the Government accepted Committee recommendations on making it easier for the public to report potholes and bring innovation funding together in one place.

Chair of the Transport Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, said: “A simple visit to the shops or the regular journey to work can result in injury or damage to someone’s vehicle from the plague of potholes on our local roads. This is an issue that affects everyone – pedestrians, cyclists and drivers – every day.

“We therefore welcome the commitment from the Department to work across government on giving local councils the cash and long-term funding certainty they need to tackle the effects on roads of years of neglect.

“The new DfT ministerial team’s willingness to engage with the work and recommendations of the Committee is refreshing. We’ll continue to press to ensure the Government commits to proper funding to make sure roads are safe for all.”