Teresa
Pearce MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government,
commenting on an Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) report showing that one in six
roads in England and Wales are in poor condition, said:
“Up and down the country, motorists, cyclists and passengers regularly
have their safety compromised by dangerous and recurring potholes. Whilst
councils are doing their utmost to repair these swiftly, huge cuts to local
government budgets are making this ever more difficult.
“The Government must act to close the funding gap in local services so that
people are able to travel freely and safely throughout their communities. And
the utility companies who regularly dig up the roads must also be an active
part of the solution to this problem.
“The Tories’ chaotic and cack-handed approach to local government funding is
creating a system whereby councils can only afford to provide the bare minimum
in statutory social care, safeguarding and homelessness services. Consequently,
we are seeing everything else, from libraries to roads, suffer as a
result.”
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