MP calls for more action on potholes!

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called for more action to deal with potholes. Research has shown that Cumbria is in the UK's top-five counties, suffering from a "pothole epidemic".

Nationwide, there's one hole for every mile of road, according to a breakdown company. Britannia Rescue says councils have paid out two and a half million pounds in compensation in the past financial year to fix damaged cars.

Cumbria County Council paid out more than £104,000 to motorists in the last financial year.

The average cost of a repairing a pothole only costs £50. Tim helped secure an extra £5.9 million of roads investment for Cumbria from government over the next two years. Cumbria will be given £3.89 million in 2013/14 and £2.082 million in 2014/15. This is in addition to the current funding the council receives. In 2010/11 Cumbria County Council spent £19.2 million of its own budget on road maintenance. This was increased to £21.5 million in 2011/12.

Tim said: "When I'm out knocking on doors, local residents mention to me time after time the poor state of our roads. Sadly this report shows what many drivers know, that we have so many potholes. I want the council to do more to deal with this. People pay enough tax for their cars; I think the least they deserve is decent roads, not roads strewn with potholes."