MORE than £6m will be spent blitzing potholes on Hampshire’s roads.
The Government has announced it will be handing out the cash to both Hampshire and Southampton councils as part of a £168m pot to help repair the country’s roads following damaging winter weather.
That's enough cash to fill up to 118,000 pot holes.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Hampshire County Council was receiving an extra chunk of cash in recognition of the work that was already being done in the county to tackle the problem.
Mr Cameron said: “We have already made an historic investment in Britain’s road network – the biggest since the 1970s – including over £22m set aside for road maintenance in Southampton and Hampshire in this year alone.
“Potholes damage cars, motorbikes and cycles and cost hard-working people money for repairs. Helping fill in potholes is helping hard-working families and we need to do more of it.
"Hampshire council has shown it is one of the leading areas in the country in its determination to beat potholes, and is receiving extra cash as a result.”
It is estimated the cash could help repair around 180,000 potholes in the region.
This is the latest in a series of announcements which will see more than £24 billion spent on England’s strategic road network between 2010 and 2021 – the biggest investment in the road network since the 1970s.
Councillor Sean Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment at the county council, said: “I am pleased to see that not only has the Government recognised the extent of the damage to Hampshire’s roads but also that it is reassured the county council can spend this money wisely.
“This £6m comes on top of the £11.5m already awarded, and, I believe, is a reflection of the county council’s commitment to long-terminvestment in the road network.”
HAMPSHIRE
- June 2014 pothole fund award: £6,086,445
- Potential number of potholes fixed: 114,000
- Weather repair fund awarded in March 2014: £11, 509, 673
SOUTHAMPTON:
- June 2014 pothole fund award: £232,889
- Potential number of potholes fixed: 4,000
- Weather repair fund awarded in March 2014: £453,946
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