Liberal Democrats in Redcar & Cleveland today welcomed the news announced in the Budget on Wednesday that the council is to get over £400,000 extra to spend on repairing potholes.

Last month the Department for Transport announced that it was making available £100m as an exceptional payment to help with much needed road repairs following the severe weather at the end of last year. This extra funding was made possible because of savings the Department made earlier in the financial year.

However, in last Wednesday’s Budget the Coalition Government announced that further savings had now been identified and so an extra £200 million has been made available for this vital programme.

The funding is in addition to the £831 million already provided to councils for road maintenance this year and the £3 billion the Government has committed over the next four years.

Speaking about the extra Government funding, local Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman, Cllr Eric Howden, said:

“The awful winter weather we’ve had over the last two years has caused havoc on local roads. Some are still in very poor condition. Potholes damage vehicles and are a safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s not just a minor problem.”

“I’m really pleased that, despite the tough financial climate, the Coalition Government has managed to give councils extra cash for fixing these potholes. It will mean an extra £406,870 for fixing potholes here in Redcar & Cleveland which is great news!”