MORE than £5million in funding will be granted to Essex County Council to fix potholes across the county.

Speaking during Wednesday’s budget announcement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged to increase pothole funding from £500million to £700million - an increase of 40 per cent.

As a local authority, Essex County Council is set to receive a total of £5,455,200.

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It represents a major increase in money available to mend the county’s roads.

Andrew Baggott, Conservative councillor, and leader of Basildon Council welcomed the funding but hopes Basildon get their fair share of the amount. 

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He said: “The funding is only good if it is spent in the right places, and where it is needed, which is Basildon. 

“The roads in Basildon are bad, and yes, they are bad everywhere, but people are focused on where they live and drive and I know Basildon roads need the funding. 

“What I hope to see is that as the Essex County Council leader has been very complimentary towards Basildon and how he sees it as the core of Essex, it will now result in money being used to resolve the potholes and infrastructure here.”

According to Freedom of Information requests, Essex County Council’s spending on road maintenance - combining both capital and revenue expenditure - sat at £68.5million in the 2017-18 financial year. In the 2021-22 financial year, however, that funding had fallen to £43.5million.

In October, a budget statement revealed the county council is investing less than half of the amount needed to correctly maintain its roads, footways, street lighting and other public rights of way.

The statement revealed the assets were in “managed decline”, as the council looked to invest £36.675million per year of the £77million required.

Lee Scott, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for highways maintenance and sustainable transport, added: “The Chancellor’s commitment to day to help local authorities to tackle potholes is very welcome.

“The harsh winter conditions we’ve experienced this winter has had a significant effect on the condition of the roads so the extra support is very much needed.

“I look forward to confirmation being provided on the funding allocation for Essex County Council in 2023/24.”