Labour’s Luke Murphy quizzed MP Heidi Alexander Secretary of State for Transport, on ‘inconsistent standards across the country’ with some potholes ‘left unaddressed for longer than others’.
Speaking during Departmental Questions on Thursday, January 9, Mr Murphy said that potholes ‘represent a serious issue in Basingstoke’ adding that constituents had told him about damaged vehicles and physical injuries as a result.
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Luke Murphy speaking in the House of Commons (Image: House of Commons)
He continued: “The AA, based in Basingstoke, highlight inconsistent standards across the country where some potholes are left unaddressed for longer than others.”
The company, headquartered in Basing View, has been advocating for a ‘Pothole Partnership’ calling for all political parties to support five points to decrease the number of potholes, support the economy and reduce injuries.
The AA says that it wants all local authorities and contractors to ‘adhere to UK-wide repair and inspection standards, and report annually on the repairs undertaken’ as well as limit the practice of temporary pothole repair.
Luke Murphy said he supports the Partnership, which also calls for greater investment in the issue, ringfencing for road maintenance funding, and transparency from local authorities when undertaking repairs.
He continued: “I really welcome the government’s additional investment to tackle this issue but will the Secretary of State consider ensuring that councils adopt common standards so communities like Basingstoke no longer face dangerous, crumbling roads.”
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In response to Luke Murphy’s question, MP Heidi Alexander said that the Basingstoke MP was ‘absolutely right about the damage that potholes can cause for all road users’.
She explained that the government has committed ‘record money’ to tackling potholes and ‘enabling that councils can get on with this work’.
However, the Secretary of State disagreed with Mr Murphy, adding that ‘all local authorities should have their own standards of road maintenance and inspection in line with local needs and priorities’.
Instead, the Swindon MP pledged to update the Department of Transport’s guidance on ‘how to best look after their highways network’.
She pledged to introduce common minimum standards for local authorities ‘so all road users know what they can expect’.