Derbyshire Leads the UK in Potholes as JCB Steps Up to Help Fix Them
Derbyshire faces a pothole crisis, but JCB is ready to assist with innovative solutions and government funding
Derbyshire, UK, Potholes, JCB, Government Funding
Derbyshire: So, it turns out Derbyshire has the most potholes in the UK, with a whopping 90,596 of them! That’s according to the RAC, which dug up this info through a Freedom of Information request. Lancashire and Northumberland are way behind, with 67,439 and 51,703 potholes, respectively.
Now, the government is stepping in with a £75 million pledge to fix potholes in the East Midlands. Lilian Greenwood, the Future of Roads Minister, is set to visit JCB Power Systems in Foston. She’s keen to check out the cool tech that’s helping local councils tackle this pothole mess.
Derbyshire is in line for a slice of the government’s £1.6 billion investment for road resurfacing across England. Plus, there’s an extra £20 million for the East Midlands County Combined Authority, which includes Derbyshire.
At the JCB factory, Ms. Greenwood will chat with engineers about the latest innovations. She’ll even get to try out the JCB Pothole Pro, a nifty machine that can fix a pothole in just eight minutes for around £30. It’s already being used by 20 local authorities!
She’s also meeting local leaders to discuss their plans for filling those pesky potholes. The goal is to make journeys safer and quicker for everyone in Derbyshire. This is all part of the government’s plan to work closely with local councils to ensure they can spend the money where it’s needed most.
Ms. Greenwood mentioned that potholes are a sign of infrastructure decline. She’s frustrated that roads in Derbyshire have been neglected for too long, putting road users at risk and costing them money.
She added that it’s time for a change, with £1.6 billion set aside to fix up to seven million potholes across England next year. JCB’s Pothole Pro is a great example of how new tech can speed up repairs.
Ben Rawding from JCB is excited to show the minister their equipment. He believes innovation is key to tackling the pothole problem. The recent announcement of £1.6 billion for road repairs in England is a welcome move.
However, he hopes the funding will be used wisely for long-term repairs, focusing on effective technology like the JCB Pothole Pro.
But not everyone is convinced. Derbyshire’s highways chief called the government’s claim of £75 million for road repairs “smoke and mirrors,” suggesting it’s just a usual maintenance grant.
Councillor Charlotte Cupit, who oversees the county’s roads, is still waiting for clarity on how much money they’ll actually receive.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on December 20 that £1.6 billion would be allocated for road maintenance, with nearly £76 million for the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which includes Derbyshire.
But Ms. Cupit isn’t buying it. She said, “The Prime Minister’s warm words alone won’t fill potholes or resurface roads.” She feels the funding announcement seems more like a distraction than a real solution.