News

£6.1m funding boost for Hampshire's roads

By James Chapple
December 28, 2012

HAMPSHIRE will be among the greatest beneficiaries of a multi-million pound cash injection designed to boost transport infrastructure outlined in the chancellor’s autumn statement.

Hampshire County Council is in line to receive £6.1m while Surrey County Council will receive an additional £4.2m which is to be spent on road repairs,

In his December 5 statement, the details of which were clarified last week, Tory chancellor George Osborne announced £333m would go on road maintenance and repairs, of which £215m has been allocated for local authorities.

Some £35m will be shared out across the south east – amounting to a funding pot worth in excess of £10m in Surrey and Hampshire, set to be spent on resurfacing and repairs following the winter.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the cash boost would support economic growth and development.

“This extra money will help local authorities to get the best out of their local road networks," he added.

“This funding can be spent on measures to bring smoother, safer and more reliable journeys to the travelling public, whether they are commuting to work or taking the children to school.”

Deputy leader of Hampshire County Council, executive member for transport Mel Kendal, said he welcomed greater funding from central government.

“Highways maintenance is a top priority for the county council on which we spend nearly £60m a year,” he said. “In addition, we made a commitment more than three years ago to invest in a multi-million pound long-term strategy - Operation Resilience.”

Cllr Kendal explained the operation seeks to improve the structural resilience of Hampshire’s roads and footways, adding the money would allow the council to expand the project.

“In the past year alone, we have strengthened more than 150 miles of roads and footways to make them more resilient and better able to withstand the effects of extreme weather and increasing traffic.

“This is underlined by the outcome of the latest national highways and transport survey which reported we are the top county in the south east and second for highways maintenance out of all 22 county councils that participated in the survey.”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

pjt - valid points indeed, although I'd disagree with a couple. Most journeys by car are short. Get rid of them and everyone's happy. How far is too far to cycle to work? I do 12 miles a day (each way), saves loads of cash, I can eat more cakes and only takes 45mins. Good stress relief too. Shoes & trousers at work, shirt carefully rolled in bag. Job done. Check out Yuba Mundo for all your family shopping by bike needs.

twitter @dombat, Woking
30/12/2012 at 21:44

twitter @dombat: Pot holes are not just caused by too much traffic, the weather, lack of maintenance and poor maintenance are huge factors.

Many repairs that are not fit for purpose so that with the wet conditions AND traffic volumes the old pot holes soon open up again next to the new ones.

pjt
30/12/2012 at 15:50

PJA - ah, yes, youtube - such an authoritative source. In any case, cycling is not the answer.

twitter @dombat - I'd LOVE to do without my car. I really would, but public transport and bikes as mainstream transport only works in big towns and cities. Not here.

How would I get to work? Too far to cycle, no direct bus service, it costs far too much, takes far too long. I can't carry my weekly family shop on my bike or public transport; buses around here are a joke. Even my Christmas trip to the airport to pick up family is far easier done by car (the alternative bus / train / bus takes half the day and costs more).

We have a society where few live near to their work. Moving closer to work is not viable financially: it is too expensive, you pay out loads in fees and taxes and it would also require my spouse to give up their job - and there's the issue of uprooting children. Moving is also impractical for another reason - my employer has relocated twice in the last three years - so where do I move to, how often should I move to follow my employer.

Cycles will only make a small dent in local traffic. Not until infrastructure is improved will the cycle message get through.

pjt
30/12/2012 at 15:42

PJA - unfortunately cartax no where near brings in enough cash to pay for all the issues created by the beloved car. Once all the deaths, injuries, pollution, illness and "externalities" are taken into account, drivers are subsidised to the tune of £140billion. Have a look at http://youtu.be/_NmgCVKK6cI

twitter @dombat, Woking
30/12/2012 at 12:43

And I wonder how long it will be after a road has been repaired before either an Electric, Gas or Water Company contractor will come along and dig it up again and do a sloppy job of filling it in afterwards so we will be back to square one again.

Dawi, Aldershot
29/12/2012 at 17:00

car tax is suppose to be used for the roads, and if it was used on the roads then we wouldn't have a problem, but unfortunately this is not the case!

PJA
28/12/2012 at 16:21

Pot holes are caused by too much traffic. Reduce traffic and speeds and repairs would need to be done less often. Get people on foot and by bike is the way forward. A Victorian solution to a 2013 problem.