Council secures £2.5m fund to mend potholes

The Department of Transport is investing £168 million from its ‘Government Pothole Fund’ this year to help authorities around the country deal with the problem.

West Sussex County Council made a successful bid for a share of the money, which will be used to continue the extensive work taking place each day to keep the road network safe.

It is anticipated – dependent on weather – that between 20,000 and 30,000 extra potholes will be repaired by April 2015 thanks to the grant.

The majority of this is expected to be done between January and April next year.

Earlier this year, the county council also received £3.6 million from the Government to spend on fixing roads damaged by extreme weather.

West Sussex County Council leader, Louise Goldsmith, said: “We are really pleased our application for additional funding has resulted in £2.5million being allocated to West Sussex.

“This is in addition to the £30 million Better Roads Programme we have started, which will improve the condition of rural and residential roads over the next two years.

“We are making the most of the good weather and filling more than 150 potholes a day across West Sussex, with 12 full time gangs and three pothole patrols out there making our roads safe, so this extra investment will help our cause.”