News Date: Friday 8th January 2010
Tim Loughton MP has raised the issue of crumbling roads in West Sussex exacerbated by the icy conditions during an emergency debate in the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday) about supplies of grit to deal with the cold snap. Notwithstanding the immediate imperatives to get the roads clear for traffic Tim pointed out that local roads were already suffering problems of potholes after the last cold spell and a wet autumn and the current icy conditions and use of grit will only make matters worse. Given that the budget for highway maintenance for counties like West Sussex has effectively been cut in recent years Tim asked the Minister to bear this in mind when dealing with the long term implications of the current weather before more of our roads become unusable or are dangerous more once the snow has been cleared.
Speaking the Chamber, Tim said:
‘Notwithstanding the short-term impact of what needs to be done, I must say that there is a longer-term impact on the fabric of the roads. They were already breaking up after the most recent bout of poor weather, and they were not helped by gritting, either. Counties such as mine, West Sussex, have faced real-terms cuts in their highways grants over recent years, so will the Minister look at the situation and at how we can help authorities to repair roads in the longer term? If we do not, the problem will get worse and worse.’
Tim Loughton MP
Member of Parliament for East Worthing & Shoreham
and Shadow Minister for Children & Young People
