Stockport is getting £6.82 million to repair its roads and pavements. The money is Stockport’s share of the new £60m Pothole Fund set up by Labour’s Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig.
Bev promised to fix Greater Manchester’s roads when she stood for Mayor. The fund launched on 2 September, and the money goes directly to the ten councils across the city-region. As well as filling potholes, it will pay for pavement repairs and more durable resurfacing, so roads last longer before they need patching again. Across Greater Manchester it should cover around 125km of road.
Stockport’s roads need it. Your Labour councillors hear about it every week, from drivers with damaged tyres and wheels to people struggling with broken pavements on the walk to school or the shops.
The Lib Dems who run the council have claimed the money was won through “extensive lobbying by the Liberal Democrat run administration”. In fact, the fund is shared between all ten Greater Manchester councils using a formula based on need, whichever party runs them. It exists because Labour’s Mayor made it a priority.
The Lib Dems are now responsible for spending it, and residents should be able to see where it goes. Labour councillors have asked the council to publish which roads will be repaired and when.
Cllr Rachel Wise, Leader of Stockport Labour Group, said: “Bev Craig promised to fix our roads, and within months she has sent £6.82m to Stockport. Now we want to make sure it reaches the roads that need it most. Nobody knows that better than the people who use them every day, so we’re asking residents to tell us.”
Tell us about the roads near you
Which roads near you are in the worst state? Our short survey takes about a minute. We’ll publish the results and use them to press the council to put the money where it’s needed.
Take the survey today – https://bit.ly/3WqZlh6