WARRINGTON Borough Council is calling on the government to release more money to enable them to tackle a major backlog of road repairs.
Years of underfunding from central government, two severe winters followed by one of the wettest summers in more than 100 years has seen a significant deterioration in the quality of many of Warrington’s roads as 
ice, salt from the grit and then water get into cracks and break up carriageway surfaces.
But this is not just a problem affecting Warrington, council chiefs say.
Back in March the Local Government Association warned the government that despite the best efforts of local councils, the cuts to their funding the average council had a £6.5 million backlog in repairs, and one-in-five roads were now classed as being in “poor condition”.
Cllr Linda Dirir (right), Warrington’s executive member for transport, said: “Since coming into power the Tory/Lib Dem coalition government has slashed Warrington Council’s funding by £50 million.
“This has had a massive impact on our ability to meet the public’s expectations because whilst people want the roads to be in good quality they rightly also expect us to make sure services for the vulnerable and the disabled are safeguarded from any cuts.
“Despite this, the Labour run council has ensured that all ‘category one potholes’ are repaired within the time frame so we minimise the risk of causing damage to cars and the council can defend itself against insurance claims.
“We have also, in partnership with Halton Borough Council, just signed a new contract with Lafarge-Tarmac which we hope will address concerns residents have expressed about the quality of road repairs but also make the service more cost effective. But fixing potholes is just a sticking plaster really – we need to be able to resurface the entire road but we just haven’t the funds”
Council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill added: “The government, or George Osborne, needs to look very seriously at releasing more funding for highways to local councils in the forthcoming spending review.
“After all, last year the Treasury collected £5.9 billion in Vehicle Excise Duty and £26.8 billion in Fuel Tax, yet in 2010/11 only £8.7 billion was spent on the roads in England.”
Council demands cash for potholes
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
7 Comments
Why don’t they collect unpaid Council Tax?
Has anyone any idea the amount of unpaid and uncollected Council Tax in this borough? Are there any sensible reasons why it is still outstanding? What measures are being taken to reduce the amount?
So today I get a claim denied – for bad damage to my tyre and slight damage to my alloy – by Halton and their insurers -Travelers – and now I read this.
I am sure one of our resident councillors will be able to give us the amount outstanding, the amount owed in Wigan in 2012 was £51,272,800.12
I can Eagle but not quite to the precision of the Wigan figure without making some calls. It is currently about £8.4 million and is the cumulative debt over the years, not just an annual debt. WBC do not write off debt except in exceptional circumstances such as death, disappearance and bankruptcy, and pursue debtors through the courts and use bailiffs and attachment of earnings orders to get the money owed. Warrington, I’m pleased to say, has one of the better collection rates, with some parts of the Borough in excess of 99%. This year, Council Tax billed is about £88 million and WBC will spend £428 million on the services that it provides. With recent changes to the benefits system, some residents who have previously had their Council Tax paid, will this year have to make a contribution, so time will tell if they become debtors.
Hope that helps, Kindest Regards, Paul
PS With regards to the article, when I spoke in the WBC Budget debate some months ago, I stated that most residents would wish to see some of the borrowings that are being proposed, used to repair our roads, pavements and drains. I am still campaigning for that to be the case. It is true that the motorist does pay far more in tax and duties than is spent on our roads as it is not ring fenced, but rather used by all governments as a way of raising substantial revenue to pay for the NHS, schools, pensions etc etc.
Thanks Paul.