Blackpool received £2.3m in government funding to fix potholes

Saturday, 21 December 2024 09:31

By Shelagh Parkinson

Blackpool is set to receive £2.3m of government funding to fix potholes across the town.

The funding is part of a £1.6bn investment by the Labour government which included pledges to fix potholes in its election manifesto.

Labour says it is increasing funding for road maintenance nationally by almost 50 per cent compared to last year.

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh visited Blackpool in September to see for herself how the town carries out road repairs after the council has adopted cutting edge techniques to minimise disruption.

The new funding also includes incentives with local authorities having to show they have carried out repairs efficiently in order to avoid 25 per cent of the payments being held back. Blackpool Council will receive a total of £2,366,000 provided it meets all the criteria.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said: “I welcome today’s announcement from the government, and I’m pleased to see such a significant investment in our roads in Blackpool.

“This funding is a vital boost to help Blackpool Council tackle this problem and making our roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

“I know fixing potholes is important for my constituents and I know from accompanying a pothole repairs team in Mereside in September that the council is already tackling the problem in innovative ways. This investment will allow them to expand on this good work while being more proactive with road maintenance.”

Blackpool Council’s Project Amber scheme uses an advanced imagery system that takes high-definition pictures of roads to detect potholes and compile data on areas most in need of repair.

As well as saving money on the highways budget and reducing road closures due to roadworks, the council has cut its compensation bill for pothole-related payouts since using the technology.

AA president Edmund King welcomed the extra funding, and said: “We urge councils to focus on permanent and innovative repairs rather than adopting a ‘patch and run’ approach. Better maintenance of the road network is the number one concern of drivers as damage costs a fortune and potholes can be fatal for those on two wheels.”