West Midlands Mayor announces extra £12m to tackle potholes
Six councils are to receive an extra £2m to help fill thousands of potholes and resurface roads across the West Midlands.The £12m funding – enough to fill 132,000 potholes and subject to final government sign-off - will be shared between Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.It follows a grant of £8m that Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker secured from the government in February.It will also pay for new low-carbon surface treatments, developed in the region, described by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as "pioneering". They will be applied to roads to extend their lifespan as well as reduce carbon emissions.
Parker has re-allocated the cash to road repairs from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund."I know that too many of our roads are blighted with deep potholes, huge cracks and craters – leaving motorists struggling with dangerous driving conditions and large repair bills," he said."That's why I decided to re-allocate this money to road maintenance budgets. I know our councils will be able to get to work quickly to bring more roads up to scratch and improve journeys for every road user."The additional funding was approved at a WMCA Board meeting on Friday, a decision that needs the green light from the Department for Transport.
According to the WMCA, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - which is part of the WMCA - is leading the way in trialling innovative, longer-lasting road surface materials, through the award-winning Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (CEDR).As part of the mission to create smoother, longer-lasting, and lower carbon roads, several councils within the WMCA area are preparing to use their funding to test these new materials. The six councils were initially allocated £24 million CRSTS money for road maintenance this year. Since then, Parker has secured an extra £20m - doubling the road maintenance budgets for the six councils.Birmingham City Council's road repairs are funded through a separate private finance initiative process.
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
41 minutes ago
- The Sun
Huge skip has been left abandoned on my driveway for WEEKS – now I'm stuck in row to remove it… it's an absolute joke
A HOMEOWNER is considering taking legal action to try to get a skip shifted off his drive. Peter Critchley paid £200 to hire the skip from Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre, in Longport, "for a day", he says. 2 2 But more than month later it remains stuck on his Norton driveway. It comes as Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre has had its general waste permit suspended by the Environment Agency since April. Peter, 42, StokeonTrentLive: 'We were just having a good clear out. We were getting some stuff out of our old wardrobes and having a good spring clean. "We found we actually had quite a bit to get rid of so we hired a skip for the weekend. "We literally only needed it for the day because everything was already in the back garden, ready to go. 'I rang them to pick it up and they said 'Yeah no problem'. "It didn't happen that day, but I thought, 'Oh fair enough, the weekend's coming up. It'll be Monday or Tuesday'. "And then I just heard nothing.' Peter struggles to walk due to a neurological disorder. He says the situation has taken a physical and financial toll on his everyday life. 'It's been an absolute nightmare,' he explained. 'I can't walk very far so I need my drive. "I can't plug in my electric car. I'm having to pay four times as much to charge it at a public charging point. 'Some days now I'm having to get my wheelchair out just to get up my drive. "But I should be able to just get out of my car and walk into my own house without having to do that. 'It's just an absolute joke. I am looking into whether it's worth getting solicitors involved. Because the cost is just ridiculous. "I've paid £200 to have a skip for a day and now I'm having to fork out £20 a week extra recharging my car. How am I going to get reimbursed for all this.' Its website states: "There may be delays in skip collections until further notice. "We kindly ask that customers continue to work with us for skip collections, as arranging alternative disposal or third-party operators may lead to complications, including potential legal ramifications. "Your patience and cooperation during this time is greatly appreciated and we are committed to restoring full operations as soon as possible while ensuring compliance with all regulations." An Environment Agency spokesman said: 'Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre is storing more waste than is authorised by the conditions of its environmental permit and in a manner that poses a serious risk of pollution. "We have therefore suspended one of the company's two environmental permits and are taking action to encourage the company to keep the amount of waste it stores within acceptable limits.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
I'm a high-end valet cleaner – the 3 everyday habits that are silently destroying your car's interior
THREE everyday habits could be destroying your motor's interior, according to experts. Most drivers think they're taking good care of their cars, but one luxury valet cleaner says three everyday habits could be doing serious damage without you realising. 2 2 Tommy Reece, based in London, has cleaned everything from top-spec Range Rovers to six-figure super cars. He warns even the most well-off clients are guilty of these common mistakes. During a chat with motor experts Number 1 Plates, he revealed the top three red some maybe surprising. Tommy said: "These are the things I see in almost every car I clean. "They might seem harmless, but they absolutely trash the interior - and it's not always something you can just wipe away." 1. Eating fast food in your car Whether it's a quick burger or cheeky drive-thru coffee, eating on the go is the number one mistake. "Chips under the seats, ketchup in the stitching, greasy fingerprints everywhere - fast food is the biggest killer of clean interiors," Tommy said. Number 1 Plates' motor experts agreed. They said: "Oil and salt from food can sink into fabrics and plastics. Motoring expert shares hacks to fix up your car using simple household goods "Once that smell sets in, it's incredibly hard to remove.' Their advice is to eat before, not during, your drive. 2. Never dusting or hoovering If you think your car looks clean because the outside is gleaming, think again. Tommy revealed: "Most people never touch the inside. "You get a build-up of dust, crumbs, dog hair, even makeup residue. "It slowly eats away at your interior.' Number 1 Plates recommends a quick vacuum once a week and a microfiber wipe down of your dash and controls to prevent long-term wear and tear. 3. Leaving drinks unsecured Your morning coffee may be your interior's worst enemy. Tommy said: "I've seen spilled lattes under seats, sticky energy drinks in cup holders, and fizzy drinks that have etched into leather. "One client lost £600 repairing a panel after a protein shake exploded." According to Number 1 Plates, drivers should use sealed, spill-proof containers or simply wait until parked before drinking anything. So, if you want to protect your car's resale value and avoid big repair bills, start by breaking these everyday habits. "A little care goes a long way," Tommy said. "It's always the small things that do the most damage." The household items you're not cleaning often enough IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling... Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices. Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains. Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly. Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner. Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine. Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
A51 drivers in Rugeley warned of night closures
Drivers are being warned that a major road in Staffordshire will be closed at night for 11 days as the redevelopment of an old power station site A51 in Rugeley will shut in both directions between Wheelhouse Road and Power Station Road from 9-20 closures, between 19:00 and 06:00 BST, come after a new roundabout was installed at the site, part of which is being developed into the county's first ever all-through school, providing education from nursery age to next stage of roadworks will include extending paths and cycleways while a toucan crossing, with signals for both pedestrians and cyclists, will be created. New drains and street lighting will also be installed as part of the scheme, which began in September and is due to finish in permission for the school was granted by Staffordshire County Council in August. The new school will open in two stages with secondary education starting from September 2025, while nursery and reception admissions will begin in September full, it will have 420 primary school places, 750 secondary school places, a 52-place nursery and 200-place sixth school will be run by John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, which runs schools across Staffordshire and Power Station closed in 2016 and the four 117m (384ft) cooling towers were demolished in June 2021, five months after its 183m (600ft) chimney was knocked down. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
