Town gets £2.3m to fix its potholes

Potholes can cause significant damage to tyres, suspension and steering systems

Blackpool is set to receive £2.3m of government funding to fix potholes around the Lancashire seaside town.

The funding is part of a £1.6bn cash-injection by the government which pledged to fix potholes in its election manifesto.

Labour said it was increasing funding for road maintenance nationally by almost 50 per cent compared to last year.

Blackpool Council will receive a total of £2,366,000 for work in the resort.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said: "I'm pleased to see such a significant investment in our roads in Blackpool.

"This funding is a vital boost to help Blackpool Council tackle this problem and make our roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians."

The council's Project Amber scheme uses an advanced imagery system that takes high-definition pictures of roads to detect potholes and compile data on areas most in need of repair.

As well as saving money on the highways budget and reducing road closures due to roadworks, the council said it had cut its compensation bill for pothole-related pay-outs since using the technology.

Edmund King, president of the AA, welcomed the extra funding for the country's roads, adding: "We urge councils to focus on permanent and innovative repairs rather than adopting a 'patch and run' approach.

"Better maintenance of the road network is the number one concern of drivers as damage costs a fortune and potholes can be fatal for those on two wheels."