Josh MacAlister, Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington, has today welcomed the Labour Government’s record funding boost for road maintenance, including nearly £100 million for Cumberland Council.
Cumberland Council will now be able to fix many more potholes and prevent new ones through proactive road improvements thanks to a doubling of roads cash by the end of the Parliament as part of the Budget.
The Government is also turning up the pressure on local authorities by more than tripling the share of local roads funding that is tied to transparency – from 8% to over 30% of the budget, over £36 million for Cumberland. The council can only unlock this funding if they publish clear pothole and maintenance data and follow best practice.
Josh said:
“At the election, we promised to fix an extra million potholes a year by the end of the Parliament. This announcement shows that we are putting our money where our mouth is. It’s double the funding that was promised by the previous Conservative government.
“This massive boost of investment in local roads comes alongside funding to cut NHS waiting lists, give everyone £150 off energy bills next year, freeze rail fares and the bus fare cap and extend the fuel duty cut for another year.
“I want to hear which local roads residents want prioritised so I can make representations to the council. Please contact my office with your suggestions to feed into the maintenance planning process.”
Residents can report local roads to Josh at joshmacalister.uk/contact
Josh MacAlister MP 