Government announces significant investment to fix our roads

Blackpool has been allocated £2.3 million to repair our roads – £609,000 more than last year under the Tories.

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 potholes, making our roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

I know that fixing potholes is important for my constituents and I know from accompanying 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.

Potholes are not just an inconvenience – they’re a serious safety hazard, causing damage to vehicles and increasing the risk of accidents. I’m pleased that the government is taking the problem seriously by investing a record £1.6 billion to fill potholes and repair roads across England in the coming year. This move will provide significant relief to millions of motorists and help improve road safety for all road users.

Funding will go beyond our original manifesto pledge and is enough to fix over seven million additional potholes in 2025/26. This is part of our broader commitment to rebuilding Britain’s infrastructure and boosting living standards for hardworking people across the country.

The funding includes a £500 million uplift for local highways authorities to carry out essential road repairs and proactive maintenance. This comes as welcome news for councils in every part of England. In Blackpool South, we’ve been allocated an additional £609,000, taking our total funding to over £2.3 million for road repairs.

For drivers, this investment will not only save money on avoidable repairs but also reduce the time spent navigating hazardous and disruptive potholes. According to figures from the RAC, the average driver encounters six potholes per mile on our roads, with the cost of damage averaging around £500 per vehicle. Given that 96% of drivers say fixing potholes should be a priority, this investment couldn’t come at a better time.

I’m also pleased to see that the government is encouraging the public to take an active role in reporting potholes to local councils through a dedicated online platform. This will help ensure that local authorities can identify the roads in most need of repair and prioritise repairs.

While filling potholes is a priority, it’s important that we don’t just patch things up temporarily but work to prevent new potholes from forming in the first place. Councils will be required to carry out preventative maintenance to stop potholes from reappearing, and 25% of this additional funding will be held back until authorities can show they’re delivering results.

At the same time, the government is cracking down on the disruption caused by street works – doubling the fixed penalty notices for utility companies that fail to comply with roadwork rules and extending charges for works that run into weekends. We’re also consulting on devolving powers to regional mayors to approve lane rental schemes, empowering local leaders to make decisions that best serve their communities.

For drivers already feeling the strain of rising living costs, the government is also freezing fuel duties for another year, saving the average motorist £59. This is part of our broader Plan for Change, which is aimed at reducing costs for families and businesses while ensuring that Britain’s infrastructure remains fit for the future.

This record investment in roads is just one part of the £69 billion in funding the government is providing to councils across England to ensure local authorities can deliver the essential services their communities rely on.