Multi million pound investment to repair potholes and roads
Council leaders in Gateshead are set to spend nearly £8m over the next five years dealing with potholes and fixing roads across the borough.
The money has been set aside in Gateshead Council's budget, which was agreed by councillors in February.
Over the last year staff have repaired thousands of potholes at over 4,000 locations across Gateshead and the council is determined to do more. It has now set aside £7.7m as an investment into maintaining and improving local roads and highways.
Failing roads will be targeted for larger, more efficient repairs, which in turn will prevent potholes forming and recurring.
This news comes as the government last week urged councils nationwide to get on with sorting out pothole issues, or face losing vital funding.
Councillor John McElroy, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways said: "Good roads affect everyone across the borough which is why we are investing more money into maintaining and repairing our roads network.
"Our roads come under a lot of stress due to increased traffic, heavier modern vehicles and general wear and tear. Changing weather patterns also has an impact on road surfaces.
"The extra money we are investing means we will be able to build on last year's successful programme, fix more roads and really make a difference to local people."
This funding has been set aside by the council, with additional highways maintenance funding also available from the government.
However, the government last week announced that councils across the country will be required to publish annual progress reports on what they are doing to tackle potholes if they are to fully access this highway maintenance funding.
From April, local authorities in England will start to receive their share of the £1.6bn fund, including an extra £500m uplift. But the government has warned that if they fail to publish annual reports setting out what they are doing to fix potholes, then 25 per cent of this uplift will be withheld.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Gateshead Council Leader, added: "We welcome any extra investment from the government, especially for our roads and highways as we know this is a big area of concern for our residents. We are already demonstrating how much this matters by investing our budget in innovative ways to tackle pothole repairs more efficiently and effectively, delivering for all our communities across the borough."
The money set aside is part of the council's capital investment programme for the next five years. This funding gives it access to innovative technology that will significantly improve repairs and make them last longer than traditional repairs. The new machinery will also mean repairs will be completed more efficiently and effectively, so will have less impact on roads and traffic management and will be more cost effective.
The technology will allow the council to tackle multiple potholes by repairing larger areas where there are clusters of such damage, or where road surfaces are showing signs of stress.
Council leaders in Gateshead are set to spend nearly £8m over the next five years dealing with potholes and fixing roads across the borough.
The money has been set aside in Gateshead Council's budget, which was agreed by councillors in February.
Over the last year staff have repaired thousands of potholes at over 4,000 locations across Gateshead and the council is determined to do more. It has now set aside £7.7m as an investment into maintaining and improving local roads and highways.
Failing roads will be targeted for larger, more efficient repairs, which in turn will prevent potholes forming and recurring.
This news comes as the government last week urged councils nationwide to get on with sorting out pothole issues, or face losing vital funding.
Councillor John McElroy, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways said: "Good roads affect everyone across the borough which is why we are investing more money into maintaining and repairing our roads network.
"Our roads come under a lot of stress due to increased traffic, heavier modern vehicles and general wear and tear. Changing weather patterns also has an impact on road surfaces.
"The extra money we are investing means we will be able to build on last year's successful programme, fix more roads and really make a difference to local people."
This funding has been set aside by the council, with additional highways maintenance funding also available from the government.
However, the government last week announced that councils across the country will be required to publish annual progress reports on what they are doing to tackle potholes if they are to fully access this highway maintenance funding.
From April, local authorities in England will start to receive their share of the £1.6bn fund, including an extra £500m uplift. But the government has warned that if they fail to publish annual reports setting out what they are doing to fix potholes, then 25 per cent of this uplift will be withheld.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Gateshead Council Leader, added: "We welcome any extra investment from the government, especially for our roads and highways as we know this is a big area of concern for our residents. We are already demonstrating how much this matters by investing our budget in innovative ways to tackle pothole repairs more efficiently and effectively, delivering for all our communities across the borough."
The money set aside is part of the council's capital investment programme for the next five years. This funding gives it access to innovative technology that will significantly improve repairs and make them last longer than traditional repairs. The new machinery will also mean repairs will be completed more efficiently and effectively, so will have less impact on roads and traffic management and will be more cost effective.
The technology will allow the council to tackle multiple potholes by repairing larger areas where there are clusters of such damage, or where road surfaces are showing signs of stress.
