Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called on local councils to urgently tackle the issue of potholes across England. His statement comes as the government reveals its plans for distributing the £1.6 billion road maintenance budget for the next financial year.
Each local authority in England will receive a share of the funding. This year’s allocation includes an increase of £500 million compared to the previous budget.
Funding allocation for the Isle of Wight
On the Isle of Wight, Councillor Phil Jordan, leader of the Isle of Wight council, has confirmed the council’s allocation.
Speaking to OnTheWight, Councillor Jordan explained that the council will receive £1.6 million specifically for addressing potholes.
However, Councillor Jordan highlighted that due to the existing Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement, the Isle of Wight will not be receiving any additional highway funding beyond this allocation. He noted that the difference in funding would amount to thousands of pounds rather than millions.
National focus on road maintenance
The government’s decision to increase the road maintenance budget by £500 million reflects growing concern over the state of England’s roads. Potholes have long been a source of frustration for residents and a safety issue for motorists and cyclists alike.
Residents on the Isle of Wight can expect the council to address pothole issues with the £1.6 million allocation.
