LGA: Government's national roads receiving 52 times more funding than council's local roads – AA comments

Commenting on the LGA’s assessment of local roads funding, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA says: “With council funding already stretched it is little wonder that the integrity of local roads is crumbling.

“Residential streets are increasingly riddled with potholes and, even when they are filled, our roads look like patchwork quilts rather than the smooth highways we need to ensure safety for all road users.

“The Government is very keen to encourage people to take up cycling for shorter journeys, but having lethal streets will only have the opposite effect.

“A much needed investment of £12 billion is required just to get our roads up to the standard they should be. Put simply, local authorities need immediate help to rectify this problem.

“From 2020/21 all Vehicle Excise Duty receipts will be used to maintain our motorways and major trunk roads. With this line in the sand already in place it is only right to start the long-term planning for how we fund upgrading and maintaining the local road network.”