UK floods: £140million pledged to fix roads after England's 'wettest winter'

 
The same street under several feet of water Picture: Jeremy Selwyn
FLOODED TIMSWAY, STAINES PICTURE JEREMY SELWYN 11/02/2014
Joe Churcher9 March 2014

Councils are to get an additional £140 million to fix roads damaged by England's record wettest winter, the Government has announced.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said a fund specifically targeting the worst-hit areas would be raised by £36.5 million to £80 million.

All councils will also share in a £103.5 million boost to the money available for fixing potholes and other dangers facing drivers.

Town hall chiefs have demanded emergency cash to deal with a "daunting trail of destruction" to the already dilapidated network left behind by recent flooding.

Floods in pictures

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Most councils are expected to receive the extra money by the end of this week in a bid to ensure works are completed before the summer holidays.

In return they will be required to publish on websites by the end of August details of how it was used.

The Department for Transport said the funds - which take the total budget to £1 billion for 2013/14 - had been found through savings made elsewhere over the year.

Mr McLoughlin said: "Having the right infrastructure in place to support businesses and hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.

"This extra money will help make a real difference to the millions of road users and local residents who rely on local roads, giving them safer and smoother journeys."

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The Sunday Telegraph said its survey of councils suggested that there was a significant increase in compensation claims by drivers who hit potholes last year.

At least 40,000 sought payouts, it said, but the average amounts received fell to around a sixth of the average level in 2012.

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