- The Government is redirecting £8.3 billion of HS2 funding to resurface roads across England.
- This includes £121,205,000 for Essex County Council, £9,832,000 for Thurrock Unitary Authority and £6,868,000 for Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority.
Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the news that £138 million will be invested over the next eleven years to resurface roads in wider Essex.
The new funding has been redirected from HS2 following the Prime Minister’s decision to scale back the project. The Government can now invest £8.3 billion in road resurfacing – covering over 5,000 miles of roads.
This is one of the biggest road resurfacing projects in England’s history and it will allow millions of drivers and passengers to enjoy smoother, safer, and faster journeys.
In wider Essex, local highway authorities will receive an extra £4,403,000 this financial year, as part of a long-term funding plan of £137,905,000 up to 2034.
Stephen Metcalfe said:
“Quality roads are essential to people in South Basildon and East Thurrock and I know the nuisance that potholes are causing drivers.
I absolutely welcome the Government’s decision to redirect HS2 funding to road resurfacing. £8.3 billion is a huge amount of money which should be welcome.
I am sure we all look forward to seeing the results.”
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:
“For too long politicians have shied away from taking the right long-term decisions to make life easier for hardworking families – tackling the scourge of potholes being a prime example.
Well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket.
This unprecedented £8.3 billion investment will pave the road for better and safer journeys for millions of people across the country and put an end to the blight of nuisance potholes.”
Promoted by Stephen Metcalfe of 2 Orsett Business Centre, Stanford Road, Grays, RM16 3BX.
