The WLGA has welcomed Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant’s announcement today to provide extra funding totalling £7 million for local authorities to spend on repairing potholes and buying road salt for gritting this winter.
Tim Peppin, WLGA Environment Director said:
“We welcome the additional £7million announced by Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant today. Over the last few years, bad weather and severe periods of freezing conditions have caused significant damage to roads across Wales, a cost which local authorities predict runs into the millions. With the local roads maintenance grant for local government being cut from £15million to £5million this year, this extra funding will go some way to help with the cost of the urgent repair work that is needed and importantly not put any further burden on councils at a time when they are already facing huge financial pressures.
Today’s funding will help local authorities to buy extra salt where needed and fund repair work. It will help to compensate for the additional repair work needed as a result of damage from the unprecedented freezing temperatures and use of road ploughs.
Levels of salt supply across Welsh councils remain reasonably high at present and gritting teams are working around the clock to keep Wales moving. Under normal winter conditions there are sufficient supplies remaining across Wales although the WLGA are in discussions to secure an extra 10k tonnes of salt from a supplier in Sweden. However, If the cold spell is prolonged and there is more heavy snow affecting all parts of the country it is inevitable that supplies will start to run down as suppliers will not be able to keep pace with demand.
The WLGA has enforced a weekly monitoring of local authority stock levels. It is also working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and the 22 local authorities to deal with the current circumstances.
We remind drivers and pedestrians to take care and be prepared before setting out as, even though the main roads are being treated, conditions of many side streets and pavements could remain difficult.“
