Staffordshire Seeks Road Funding Clarity Before Reeves’ Budget

Highways officials in Staffordshire have called for clarification regarding next year’s highways funding for councils, ahead of Wednesday’s Budget. Mark Deaville, the cabinet member for strategic highways on Staffordshire County Council, specifically urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to clarify the status of Network North funding for county councils. He noted that the wet weather experienced last winter “really took a toll on our roads,” leading the Conservative authority to invest an additional £8m into fixing defects. Mr. Deaville stated that such clarity would allow the council to plan effectively for the next year. Reeves, who is set to deliver Labour’s first Budget in 14 years this week, has previously warned that her plans would involve “difficult decisions.” Mr. Deaville remarked: “The way the weather has been at the moment indicates that the coming winter will be just as bad as the last, so additional funding from government to keep our roads in a decent state of repair is absolutely essential.” He also sought details on Network North, described as a multi-billion-pound package of transport improvements that the previous government announced after deciding to axe the northern leg of the high-speed railway project, HS2. Mr. Deaville further stated: “This funding is absolutely essential for us to conduct more repairs and structural schemes, and will allow us to plan our road maintenance and upgrades for the next few years.” He added that the Budget offered a “tremendous opportunity” to invest in highway infrastructure. This investment, he explained, would enable the council to tackle flooding issues and undertake major schemes such as resurfacing and bridge repair.