Councils including Harrow could lose a large chunk of their road funding if they fail to show they are properly fixing potholes and maintaining roads. The Government has announced new rules which mean local authorities must prove the money they receive is being spent on road maintenance or risk losing up to a third of their funding next year.
Across England, around £1.6 billion is allocated for road repairs, but £525 million of that will now be held back unless councils can clearly show results and be transparent about how the money is used. The move is aimed at tackling the ongoing issue of potholes, which are a regular complaint from drivers in Harrow and across London. The Government says pothole damage costs motorists around £500 on average in repairs.
Under the new system, councils will need to publish reports showing how they are maintaining roads, set out long term plans and ensure their highways teams are properly trained. A new rating system has also been introduced, grading councils red, amber or green based on road conditions and how well funding is being used. Councils that perform poorly could lose funding, while those struggling will be offered support to improve.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “Drivers deserve smooth, safe journeys, and we’re making sure every pound goes straight into fixing roads and tackling potholes, not being spent elsewhere.
“Potholes aren’t just an inconvenience – they cost drivers hundreds, if not more every time they cause damage to a vehicle. Fixing our roads is one of the most impactful things we can do to reduce the cost of owning and driving a car, and we’re making sure every pound goes straight into doing exactly that.
“We’ve made it crystal clear, that councils which fail to maintain their roads will now risk losing up to a third of their funding. And for the first time, we’re giving councils multi-year funding so they can plan properly and reverse a decade of decline in our roads.”
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “These measures should go a long way to addressing the poor condition of local roads which we know from research for the RAC Report on Motoring is drivers’ number-one concern.
“Ensuring money that is given to councils to improve their roads is actually spent on roads is critical, so the Government’s focus on this will be welcomed by drivers. And, while fixing dangerous potholes is vital, it’s also very positive to see councils being encouraged to carry out preventative maintenance work which will stop potholes forming in the future.
“Having the certainty of funding over the next five years for councils to plan proper maintenance programmes should result in better quality roads for all.”
The AA president Edmund King said: “Fixing potholes remains the number one motoring issue for drivers, so it is right that councils are being scrutinised over their repair plans. We urge local authorities to use their funding to resurface roads rather than simply patch-up their streets. Proper investment in the road network helps create safer, smoother journeys for everyone.”
A spokesperson for Harrow Council said, “We have a statutory duty to maintain public highway and have an ongoing highways maintenance programme which includes routine safety inspections, planned resurfacing works and reactive pothole repairs. All defects and issues relating to standards of repair are assessed and prioritised based on the safety and condition of the road. Repairs are carried out in line with the standard required.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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