From: “Reading Borough Council” <webmaster@reading.gov.uk>
Date: 5 Mar 2015 14:03
Subject: Road Repair Budget Cut by £1 Million
To: <Racheleden.whitley@gmail.com>
Cc:
Road Repair Budget Cut by £1 Million
05/03/2015
Reading Borough Council Press Release
READING will receive £1 million less in Government money to repair and resurface roads in 2015/16 than it did this year, a report published today (March 5th) confirms.
The significantly reduced allocation is outlined in a report to the Council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee at http://beta.reading.gov.uk/article/3923/Traffic-Management-Sub-Committee-12-MAR-2015. (item 12).
Reading Borough Council’s allocation from Government for highways maintenance for the coming year is £1,472,000, as against a grant of £2,546,000 in 14/15. The figure stood at £2,861,000 in 13/14.
Looking further forward, Reading’s allocation is cut further. It will be £1,350,000 in 2016/17 and £1,309,000 in 20017/18.
Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:
“The figures published today mean that in the space of just three years the amount of money the Government gives to Reading to repair potholes and resurface roads will have nearly halved.
“Road surfaces across the UK have suffered considerable damage in recent years due to periods of heavy rainfall followed by prolonged cold spells, and Reading is no different in that respect. Our roads carry a considerable amount of traffic as everybody knows, which adds to the deterioration.
“Every year the Council carries out a comprehensive road resurfacing programme which includes both major roads and residential streets. The facts are that the resurfacing and repair programme for the coming year will cover eight main roads. Last year’s programme covered 20 main roads. The reduction in Government funding outlined in this report means less money for repairs and resurfacing in future years.”
The Government allocation for 14/15 of £2,546,000 included a grant of £238,000, set aside specifically for pothole repairs. This additional funding came forward as a result of significant damage to local authority roads as the result of consecutive years of extreme weather in 2012 and 2013. Even without this additional allocation, the difference between the Government funding figure for 2014/15 and 2015/16 is £836,000.
Reading’s Highway and Maintenance Programme for 2015/16 will be discussed at the Council's Traffic Management Sub-Committee on Thursday March 12, starting at 6.30pm.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Reading Borough Council Press Releases can be found online at http://beta.reading.gov.uk/article/1908/News–Press-Releases/
Media Contact: Oscar Mortali
Tel: 0118 937 2301
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