£500 Million Pothole-fixing Plan: Relief for Southport Drivers

Patrick Hurley MP has welcomed the Labour Government’s plans for a £500 million boost to efforts to fix local roads in Southport and across the country over the next year.

The uplift was announced at the first budget of the new Labour Government. The plans, which bring the total amount dedicated to fixing roads in England over the next year to almost £1.6bn, will be a significant boost for drivers in Southport after years of misery caused by poorly maintained roads.

The news means the new government is on track to exceed its manifesto pledge to fix 1 million more potholes per year, [1] and represents an almost 50% increase in funding year on year.

Pothole-ridden roads have wreaked havoc on motorists’ lives in Southport for years after fourteen years of neglect under the Conservatives.

In 2023 it was estimated that the North West region had four thousand miles of damaged roads, with 18% of roads in poor condition. [2] An AA survey from the same year also revealed a shocking 53% of North West residents described their local roads as “terrible”. [3]

Under the Conservatives, the North West region’s roads had become symbolic of the state of our country – cratered with potholes that damage vehicles and push up insurance costs for drivers.

Across the country, the Chancellor’s announcement will be a welcome boost to millions of working people by saving them hundreds of pounds a year on maintenance and repairs. Analysis has found that many motorists are now spending up to £460 to fix damage to their cars caused by potholes.

The announcement will see funding provided to Local Authorities across England from April 2025. The investment comes alongside a freeze to fuel duty - which will save drivers up to £59 a year - and a new taskforce launched by the Transport Secretary to crack down on the spiralling costs of car insurance. [4]

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

“For too long, this country has suffered from a pothole plague. Our roads have become a constant and visible reminder of the decline in our country’s infrastructure, which stunts economic growth.

“From drivers to bikers to cyclists, everyone who uses our roads deserves a safe and pleasant journey. That’s why we’re providing a £500m boost to fix our local roads.

“Whether it’s taking action to repair our local roads, keeping down fuel costs at the pump, or cracking down on the spiralling costs of car insurance - this Government is determined to ensure drivers get a fair deal.”

Welcoming the news, Patrick Hurley MP, for Southport, said:

”Fourteen years of the Conservatives saw Britain’s roads plagued with potholes – leaving a legacy of crumbling roads and creaking infrastructure.

“The shocking state of our local roads is not just dangerous; it also saddles drivers with spiraling car repair costs. I know from speaking to residents that addressing this is a priority in Southport.

"I’m delighted that, in its first Budget, the new Labour Government has announced an almost 50% increase in funding to deliver lasting repairs across the country.

“This will make a huge difference to the daily lives of people not just across Southport, but also in all our towns and villages across the north west. No matter which political party runs the Town Hall locally, one common feature of the last 14 years has been badly maintained roads due to Conservative and Lib Dem government cuts and underfunding."