The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is due to invest about £215m in pothole repairs, pavements and bridges through a new Potholes & Pavements Fund.
The authority says the figure is around £40m, or more than 20%, higher than previous funding windows and represents a record level of investment. The funding will be allocated directly to Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.
North Somerset Council’s future funding is still being worked on as it progresses towards joining the combined authority.
Allocation details still to be confirmed
The combined authority has not yet published the period covered by the £215m fund, how much each of the three councils will receive, or the proportion earmarked for bridges, carriageways and footways.
The councils remain the local highway authorities legally responsible for maintaining their roads. The combined authority says the fund will address road defects and structures, while council leaders say it will support the maintenance of roads and footways.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Everyone who uses the West’s roads and pavements will welcome this record investment in our part of the world thanks to the record transport funding that we have secured from the national government.”
She said the work would help reduce vehicle repair costs, citing RAC figures that “stack up to more than £300 on average for drivers”, and improve conditions for walking and cycling.
In a joint statement, Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England; Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council; and Cllr Maggie Tyrrell and Cllr Ian Boulton, Leader and Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Potholes and damaged pavements are among the most common concerns raised by residents. This investment is therefore good news for communities across the West of England, helping councils maintain roads and footways, improve safety, and support smoother journeys for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport users alike.”
Transport plan moves towards submission
The fund is intended to sit alongside planned regional investment in buses, trains and stations, mass transit and active travel under the West of England’s Transport Vision.
The region’s Local Transport Delivery Plan is due to be submitted to the Department for Transport at the end of October. An update is expected to be noted at the next meeting of the mayor and council leaders on 23 October, with final funding details still being developed.
The combined authority says it has secured £752m from the Department for Transport through Transport for City Regions for investment between 2027 and 2032. Nationally, the Autumn Budget announced £7.3bn over four years to help councils repair potholes.