Last week I was delighted to see an additional £82.4m of funding allocated to Surrey County Council to improve roads. This funding is much needed and is a positive step towards getting our roads back into a decent condition and reducing the number of potholes.
Well maintained roads are fundamental for the wellbeing and prosperity of communities. Not only do they shape the character of local areas, but they weave individuals and businesses into the fabric of daily life. Every resident, whether a vehicle owner or not, relies on roads for all manner of things, from their weekly rubbish collection to receiving their mail.
Surrey’s road network is approximately 5,500 km in length and is one of the most highly used networks in England due to its proximity to London. Our nearly 1.2 million population relies upon these roads, along with the many other people passing through on their way to London or the airport.
It won’t be a surprise to you that the most common issue raised by residents is the poor state of our roads. And that is why in 2022, I launched my ‘fairer road funding’ campaign to lobby for more road funding. Nearly 6000 people signed my petition to reform the road maintenance funding formula, which I hand delivered to No 10. I also raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, and have made sure that residents’ plea for better roads has been communicated at all available opportunities.
This additional £82.4m of funding is a game changer. It will allow Surrey Highways to resurface more roads at the right time before they become susceptible to potholes. Not only is this good for drivers who suffer damage to their vehicles from potholes, but it’s incredibly good for cyclists and other road users where potholes can be incredibly dangerous. More funding is still needed, but this is a positive step forwards. I’m still yet to see detail of how the additional funding will be spent in Reigate & Banstead, but once I do I will share this with you!
