Local roads being resurfaced thanks to reallocated HS2 funding

A programme of pothole repairs and road resurfacing projects for Warrington and the North West, made possible by the first tranche of £1.2 billion in reallocated HS2 funding for the region, has been revealed.

The first set of roads have already resurfaced to make journeys safer, faster and smoother, with more to come.

Welcoming the investment Warrington South MP Andy Carter said: “Drivers in Warrington who have responded to my recent survey said repairs to the town’s roads was a high priority so I welcome the news that Warrington has submitted a plan, we now need to see the work taking place.
“Alongside the additional £33.8m funding for Warrington Borough Council comes additional accountability, with a requirement to set out which roads are to be resurfaced so that local residents can see where the money is being spent and a timescale for the council to deliver the work.”

Last November, the Government announced an unprecedented £8.3 billion investment to tackle badly surfaced roads and pothole ridden streets across England, with the North West receiving £1.2 billion recommitted from the Northern leg of HS2, over an 11 year period.
Councils in the North West, inc ludign Warrington Borough Council, have already been paid over £19 million to get on with the work and deliver improvements, with another £19 million following in this financial year. As a condition of this funding, and to make sure money is being spent on pothole repairs, local authorities are required to publish a two year plan detailing exactly which local roads will benefit.
Today (10th April), the Department for Transport has revealed the local authorities receiving funding across the North West which have responded to the Department’s survey request to set out their plans, meaning local people can now check their local council’s websites and scrutinise their plans for themselves.

An initiative intending to bring increased transparency to how local councils deliver taxpayer-funded improvements, residents in the North West can now immediately see the benefits to their area made possible by reallocated HS2 funding, holding their local authority to account for delivering local road improvements.
The reporting requirements have highlighted how emerging techniques and equipment are being used to tackle potholes in the North West, such as in Lancashire, where councils are using materials made of recycled plastics and so-called bio-binders to fill potholes in a low-carbon way.
The Department has already been clear with those local authorities that have failed to publish reports that they could see the withdrawal of future funding to resurface roads.
From Carlisle to Crewe, people across the North West are encouraged to check their authority websites and see which roads are planned to be improved, and routes where work has already taken place, such as the B5345 at Whitehaven and the A50 at Knutsford.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “We’re on the side of drivers, which is why this Government is getting on with delivering our plan to invest £1.2 billion in the North West as part of the biggest ever funding increase for local road improvements, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
“Alongside this unprecedented funding, which is already being used to improve local roads, we’re making sure residents can hold their local authority to account and see for themselves how the investment will be spent to improve local roads for years to come.”
Having submitted their first reports last month, councils in the North West will now also be required to submit quarterly reports from June, announcing work which has taken place over three months, meaning residents will now regularly be able to scrutinise the progress their local authority is doing to tackle potholes. For many councils, this may well be the first time they have reported their roads resurfacing plans in detail, so we would expect the overall quality of reporting from councils to improve over time and the Department will keep the quality of their reporting under review in the interests of taxpayers.
The Government’s long-term plan to improve local road networks across the country could save motorists up to £440 on vehicles repairs and is the biggest ever uplift in funding for local road improvements.

The schemes submitted by Warrington are:

Additional Resurfacing Schemes 2023/24
Scheme 1 2023/24: Farrell Street
Two sections of Farrell Street are to be resurfaced

Scheme 2 2023/24: A50 Knutsford Road
Two sections of Knutsford Road are to be resurfaced

Additional Resurfacing Schemes 2024/25
Scheme 1 2024/25: A5061 Knutsford Road
East of Wash Lane to East of Park Avenue.

Scheme 2 2024/25: A574 Warrington Road
Roundabout at Holcroft Lane to West of Churchill Avenue.

For full details and costings CLICK HERE