Cuts mean drivers face more potholes

Reduced government funding for local authorities risks worsening the quality of roads, a Whitehall-spending watchdog has said.

Department for Transport (DfT) funding to local authorities has remained stable following the 2010 Government spending review and autumn statement, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) said.

The report went on: "However, there is a 28% real-terms fall in grants from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) over the spending review period (up to 2014/15)."

The NAO said local authorities had a range of statutory duties which reduced their unrestricted spending.

The NAO report said: "We said that cuts risked deterioration in highway quality and higher long-term costs for the department (DfT) or local authorities."

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Local roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities and they are best placed to use their knowledge and experience to decide how to prioritise funding across the range of services they deliver.

"This Government is giving councils over £3 billion for road maintenance from 2011/12 to 2014/15, as well as investing £6 million for the highways maintenance efficiency programme to get the most out of investment in this area."

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