Manchester Roads Crisis

When you ask your Labour councillors in Manchester if potholes can be fixed they will tell you that they don't have the money because of government cuts, and yet £18 million of money set aside to repair our roads went unspent last year. That's not cuts, it's incompetence.

Manchester Council today announced the next phase of Manchester's highways investment but completely failed to admit that their mismanagement of our city means nearly £18m has been wiped from this year's spending.

Boasting about next year's investment in our roads Manchester's Labour bosses claims they will spend £4m repairing more than 14,000 potholes on roads and pavements in the city, but their failure to keep contractors in line has meant that last year's work in now being delivered behind schedule and with the budget revised accordingly means £17.6 million of road repairs will not happen.

Liberal Democrat Lead Campaigner for Gorton and Abbey Hey, Jackie Pearcey, stated that "Our councillors can scream at the tops of their voices about cuts, but when they cannot spend properly the money they have got it isn't cuts it's incompetence."

"Again, this year, the lack of transparency and oversight from Manchester's Labour bosses has meant that local people will suffer as our roads don't get the investment they need."
With countless people complaining about damage to their cars and cycles from the potholes in our streets everybody knows somebody who has been let down by Labour failing to manage the city's roads budget.

Jackie added that "This constant lack of scrutiny on private contractors is unacceptable and another reason why a Liberal Democrat opposition on this council is so vital."

If you know of any potholes or other street environment issues needing attention, please fill in our street environment survey HERE!