Councillor Expresses Frustration Over Rural Road Funding

The head of highways for Lincolnshire County Council expressed his “frustration” regarding insufficient road funding. Councillor Richard Davies asserted that “rural authorities” receive reduced financial allocations from the central government. He stated, “We are seeing a consistent attack on rural England from a very urban centric government.” The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in reply, indicated its “determination to deliver fairer funding,” which it claimed would eliminate “postcode lotteries” and guarantee that “everyone gets the support from public services they deserve.” Davies affirmed his belief that the council manages its financial resources effectively, yet he criticized the central government’s funding priorities. He highlighted that Lincolnshire possesses a significant quantity of rural roads. Davies remarked, “They aren’t sexy dual carriageways and motorways that ministers like to sit in front of and have their photograph taken in very shiny high vis jackets that have never been worn for much else.” He acknowledged that managing finances can be “frustrating” but conveyed his desire to “assure people we are not afraid of making difficult decisions.” During an appearance on The Hotseat, broadcast on BBC Radio Lincolnshire and BBC Sounds, presenter Frances Finn questioned the councillor on numerous subjects. Responding to an inquiry about why certain roads in Lincolnshire “feel like a rollercoaster,” Davies explained that the authority must balance demand with usage. He stated, “We don’t have resources to have hundreds of people looking to do repairs as and when we need to.” He added, “As a county council we have competing needs.” When questioned regarding hazardous junctions within the county, Davies indicated that the authority “can’t just spend millions of pounds” and “rush decisions.” A caller informed Davies that they considered the county’s roads to be a “disgrace” and “hazardous,” inquiring why certain roads do not receive adequate funding. Davies responded, “As a nation we don’t invest enough as infrastructure, it is a constant source of frustration.” Davies also encouraged individuals to utilize the Fix My Street website for reporting issues. He commented, “We don’t always know about all the problems on our road.” He concluded, “It’s a really good way to feed back to people.”