Pothole problems £32m budget is not enough to maintain roads

THE Liberal Democrats, who ran an election campaign pledging to “fix Gloucestershire”, say there is not enough money to repair the county’s roads now they are in power.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucestershire County Council's new highways cabinet member Joe Harris (LD, Cirencester Park) said on June 18 they need to spend around £50m just to maintain the road network at its current level.

However, the roads budget for the current year is just £32m. The Lib Dems who consistently campaigned for potholes to be fixed while in opposition and levelled criticism at the previous Conservative-run council now say they need “manage the public's expectation”.

Cllr Harris, who has pointed out his fair share of road defects in the Cotswolds over the years, says there will potentially be more potholes in future.

He said the local government has borne the brunt of the budget cuts of austerity and Shire Hall is facing its own financial challenges.

“We've seen rising demand, whether that’s in social care, in terms of infrastructure, whether that’s those non-statutory services councils provide,” he said. “We've also seen a real term cut in funding.

“All this perception that councils have great reserves they are sat on and we are hoarding on it is total rubbish, to be honest.”