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  "path": "/lifestyle/cars/labour-remove-funding-local-councils-potholes-rules",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-14T07:36:40.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The crackdown follows a recent assessment of 154 local highway authorities, which were rated red, amber or green",
    "UK motorways could see speed limits hiked to 80mph in plan to axe 'outdated' road rules",
    "Drivers are 'making the switch to electric faster than ever' as Octopus reports 89% spike in demand",
    "Motorists to go free for marginal speeding under Kemi Badenoch's rules - 'Catch burglars instead!'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nCouncils across England could lose millions of pounds in funding if they fail to prove they are properly fixing roads, the Government has warned.\n\nUnder new rules announced by the Department for Transport, local authorities must now clearly show that money given for highways is being spent on maintaining roads, or risk having a large chunk of it taken away.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAround £1.6billion has been set aside for councils next year, but up to £525million could be withheld from those that fail to meet the new standards.\n\nMinisters warned that a tougher approach is needed to tackle the growing pothole crisis, which continues to frustrate drivers and damage vehicles.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRoads Minister Simon Lightwood said motorists have a right to expect safe journeys and insisted that the Government will ensure funding is not wasted.\n\n\"Potholes aren't just an inconvenience; they cost drivers hundreds, if not more, every time they cause damage to a vehicle,\" he said.\n\nHe added: \"We're making sure every penny is spent properly on fixing our roads, not diverted elsewhere.\"\n\nThe Government estimated that potholes cost the average driver around £500 a year in repair bills.\n\nCouncils will now be required to publish clear reports on how money is spent, alongside long-term plans to maintain roads and to improve training for highways staff.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nLocal authorities that are unable to prove they are delivering improvements could lose up to a third of their funding.\n\nThe crackdown follows a recent assessment of 154 local highway authorities, which were rated red, amber or green based on road conditions and how effectively they use funding.\n\nAt the same time, ministers say councils will benefit from multi-year funding settlements for the first time, allowing them to plan ahead and tackle what has been described as years of decline in road quality.\n\nMotoring groups have broadly welcomed the move by the Government, saying it could finally force improvements onto damaged roads.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * UK motorways could see speed limits hiked to 80mph in plan to axe 'outdated' road rules\n  * Drivers are 'making the switch to electric faster than ever' as Octopus reports 89% spike in demand\n  * Motorists to go free for marginal speeding under Kemi Badenoch's rules - 'Catch burglars instead!'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRAC head of policy Simon Williams said: \"These measures should go a long way to addressing the poor condition of local roads, which we know is drivers' number-one concern.\n\n\"Making sure councils actually spend the money on road repairs is critical, and more preventative work should stop potholes from forming in the first place.\"\n\nAA president Edmund King also backed the plans but urged councils to go further. \"We urge local authorities to use their funding to resurface roads rather than simply patch up their streets,\" he said.\n\nThe Government is also stepping in to help struggling councils with 13 of the worst-performing authorities, those given a red rating, set to receive targeted support worth £300,000 each over two years.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMinisters explained that the aim is to ensure \"record levels\" of investment lead to noticeable improvements on the ground, with smoother and safer roads.\n\nHowever, industry experts warned that the scale of the problem remains at large. David Giles, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, said councils still face a massive repair backlog.\n\nHe said: \"The latest figures show the backlog has now reached £18.62billion. It is not the silver bullet that will allow local highway engineers to fully deliver the necessary resurfacing and proactive programmes.\"\n\nDespite this, the Government insisted the new measures mark a major step forward, combining long-term funding with stricter accountability in a bid to finally get England's roads back into shape.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Labour to remove funding from local councils failing to tackle major road problems under new rules"
}