11 Years of Potholes say AA, but Kent spends £27.8 million on moving its Highways Department instead

11.11.10am GMT Mon 28th Jan 2008

Britain's roads are littered with so many potholes that it would take more than 11 years to fill them at the rate they are being fixed, according to the Automobile Association.

Councils failed to repair almost a million holes last year, says the AA. AA president, Edmund King, said:

"The state of the roads is a danger to motorists, cyclists and motorcyclists. Across the whole of the country there must be hundreds and thousands of potholes not being filled in."

The Local Government Association says it would need an extra £200 million a year to reach repair targets by 2010. In Kent, the County Council are spending £27.8 Million on moving their Highways Department into new depots and offices.

Shepway Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater commented:

"Kent has more than its fair share of potholes, and fixing them should be the priority. Sadly, Kent County Council seems to have its priorities wrong.

"The recent re-organisation of the Highways department is an example of money spent in the wrong place. The Tory controlled County Council have spent £27.8m on moving their Highways department into new offices and depots, rather than on repairing our roads and pavements.

"This mismanagement of our money is scandalous. The Liberal Democrats would spend money where it matters on repairing dangerous roads and pavements rather than reshaping the Highways accommodation."