As the festive season approaches and the drive home for Christmas begins, the UK Government has announced road maintenance funding across the country, with Worcestershire assigned nearly £30 million.
£7.9m of this funding is directly aimed at tackling potholes, enhancing road quality, and supporting preventive maintenance measures throughout the County.
However, the allocation comes with a built-in incentive mechanism ensuring Highway Authorities demonstrate compliance with certain criteria aimed at driving and continuing improvement in highways maintenance practice.
A quarter of the additional funding will be withheld until local authorities demonstrate that they are delivering effective and efficient road maintenance programs.
In recent years the County Council has been in the top level of the Department for Transport’s incentive Funding.
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, commented on the announcement:
“Road maintenance remains one of Worcestershire County Council's top priorities, and we’ve consistently invested in this area over recent years. While we welcome the additional funding, it’s disappointing to see restrictions attached. The devil is in the detail, and we’ll need to review the finer points of this funding allocation.
“That said, Worcestershire has always performed strongly in managing its highways assets, consistently achieving top-tier status in the Government’s Incentive Fund since its inception. We already repair all identified potholes in line with our policies, and we plan to continue our preventative strategy, focusing on more surfacing and surface dressing to extend the life of our roads.”
“Overall, while the amount is less than we’d hoped for, this is still good news. It will allow our highways teams to undertake critical road and footpath improvements, alongside addressing more potholes across the county.”
Residents can report potholes directly to Worcestershire County Council via the online portal.
After a report is submitted, the Council will inspect the issue and arrange repairs if it meets the necessary criteria. Progress on reports can also be tracked online.
This funding reaffirms Worcestershire’s commitment to maintaining safe and reliable roads for all users, ensuring smoother journeys and reducing wear and tear on vehicles.
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