Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, has welcomed the announcement that East Sussex County Council is set to receive £52 million over the next eleven years as part of a long-term plan to repair local roads.
The funding follows the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement at Conservative Party Conference that the £36 billion that would have been spent extending HS2 would now be spent on long-term transport improvements that will deliver better, faster journeys for far more people.
New plans allow the Conservative Government to invest £8.3 billion, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across the country, saving motorists up to £440 on vehicle repair sand creating smoother, safer and easier journeys for all.
East Sussex County Council as the local highways authority will receive £1.6 million this financial year, followed by a further £1.6 million for 2024-25, as part of a long-term funding plan through to 2034.
Maria Caulfield MP said:
“I am very pleased that the government are investing the savings from extending HS2 into much-needed improvements for our roads, potholes and the general condition of roads is one the top issues in my mailbag from constituents. Locally we have a new highways contractor which started earlier this year and we are already seeing improvements, this funding boost will help to clear the backlog of work quicker and allow us to see visibly better roads in our area.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“For too long politicians have shied away from taking the right long-term decisions to make life easier for hardworking families-tackling the scourge of potholes being a prime example. Well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket. This unprecedented £8.3 billion investment will pave the road for better and safer journeys for millions of people across the country and put an end to the blight of nuisance potholes.”