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The city council said it will resurface 53 per cent more roads in Brighton and Hove after securing a funding boost of £1.6million. The Argus can reveal that the overall funding for road maintenance this financial year will be £7.
3 million - up from £5.7million last year - after getting extra money from the government. Cllr Jacob Taylor and Cllr Trevor Muten in Hillside, Moulsecoomb visiting the road resurfacing (Image: NQ) Council cabinet members Jacob Taylor and Trevor Muten visited the first road resurfacing paid for by the increased funding in Hillside, Moulsecoomb, on April 3.
Highway maintenance workers were also adding in new yellow lines at the bottom of the road, at the junction with The Avenue, in response to residents' requests. Cllr Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm, said he was "really pleased" to see the "first of many" resurfacing jobs this year. He said: "The roads in the city, and across the country, are in a bad state after years of under-investment - so we're focused on ramping up resurfacing in a major way to catch-up.
"With more, we can do more." Cllr Taylor, the cabinet member for finance and city regeneration, explained that the £7.3million will be spent on planned road maintenance as well as reactive repairs.
This includes lighting, pavements and paths. He also revealed that the total metres of road being resurfaced will increase from 145,900 meters squared in 2024/25 to 224,400 metres squared this year. This equates to a 53 per cent increase year-on-year in terms of volume of roads being proactively resurfaced.
Potholes and cracks in the road in Hillside, Moulsecoombe (Image: NQ) Cllr Taylor expressed his frustration with the previous Conservative government, stating that what they did to the road network across the nation was a "disgrace". He told The Argus: "The roads are in a terrible state - potholes everywhere - and I'm very pleased to see Hillside in Moulsecoomb being resurfaced, and new yellow lines being added. "This Labour council is focused on renewing and rebuilding every part of the city, following years of underfunding from the Tories, and mismanagement from the last Green council.
"A 53 per cent increase in roads being resurfaced is great progress for the city." Cllr Jacob Taylor and Cllr Trevor Muten in Hillside, Moulsecoombe visiting the road resurfacing (Image: NQ) The increased funding for this year was revealed following the government's announcement in March of £1.6 billion in highway maintenance funding, including an extra £79m for the South East.
The boost in funding for the South East includes Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC), West Sussex County Council and East Sussex County Council. But to get the full amount, all councils in England must now publish annual progress reports and prove public confidence in their work. Local authorities who fail to meet these strict conditions will see 25 per cent of their pothole funding, which is £19.
9m for the South East, withheld. When the news was announced, BHCC has said it welcomed the government's approach on potholes. Cllr Muten said: "I can confirm we will be complying with the government's approach - ensuring funding is aligned with real delivery for residents and taxpayers.
"We plan to bring our Highways Maintenance Programme and updated Highways Maintenance Policy to Cabinet next month [April]. "Brighton and Hove needs this extra funding to start fixing the shocking legacy of the last Tory government on potholes. With more, we will do more.
" (Image: The Argus) The council also emphasised that tackling potholes is a "real priority" in March after cabbies, residents and an opposition councillor said tha t the situation was "unacceptable". Andrew Peters who is part of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association - which consists of drivers from across the city, said at the time: “The state of the roads in Brighton and Hove is causing such an enormous problem for the local cab trade." Cllr Taylor emphasised that potholes continue to be a priority for the council, and that this increase in funding is there to "tackle the issue".
He said: "We totally understand why residents are frustrated with the potholes across the city - so are we - which is why we're increasing the funding and significantly increasing the volume of roads being resurfaced this year.".
