MP challenges Transport Minister to increase funding to repair Cumbria’s roads

On the floor of the House of Commons this morning, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron asked Transport Minister Richard Holden to introduce special funding to compensate the county's roads for the huge amount of visitors that come to the area by car.

Last year, Cumbria was dubbed England's pothole capital new data showed it tops the list of complaints from the public about crater-riddled roads.

Speaking during Transport Questions in the House of Commons, Tim said: "Cumbria gets 20 million visitors a year, and we are delighted to receive every single one of them.

"But our highways are in a state, because we do not get a penny from the Government to compensate for any one of the cars that those 20 million people visit us in.

"Is it time that the Government gave a funding formula to Westmorland and Furness Council, and Cumberland Council, that takes account of the fact that our roads, and indeed our hospitals, doctors services and police services, are used by others, and not just by ourselves?"

In response, Richard Holden MP said: "As I pointed out in a previous answer, when it comes to councils repairing roads, it is about getting on with the job on the ground. Conservative councils repair on average twice as many potholes per council area as Lib Dem councils do. The recent Government announcement about ensuring that utility companies are properly held to account is also in the right direction.

"If Lib Dem-controlled councils are interested in potholes, have they implemented a lane rental scheme that enables them to get cash, like Surrey, Kent and West Sussex County Councils have done, all of which are Conservative controlled? There is nothing from the Lib Dems on that."

Speaking afterwards, Tim said: "I'm bitterly disappointed that the minister chose to trawl out petty party politics, rather than be constructive about this important issue.

"The state of some of our roads is absolutely appalling. The Government should be supporting the new Westmorland and Furness Council to tackle this."