Complaints about potholes at their lowest ever level in Milton Keynes, says council

MK Council figures show there were more than 1,000 complaints last year - almost three a day.

But six years previously, in 2014, more than 2,100 pothole complaints were received.

The Labour administration, which took over in 2014, made pothole repairs and improving roads an on-going theme, with council leader Pete Marland even being nicknamed “Pothole Pete,” by the media

Today it has been announced that MK Council will invest an extra £150,000 in pothole repairs over the next few months.

The news comes after the government announced an extra £2,843,000 funding to repair roads in MK.

A deluge of new potholes are expected after the wet and frosty winter weather, which causes road surfaces to crack.

But Cllr Emily Darlington, Cabinet member for Highways said the council was ready. “MK Labour is investing more cash to fix more potholes. We will never be able to fix every pothole, but we can fix more, with better repairs that last longer," she said.

Milton Keynes shows the third biggest improvement nationally in highway condition, and was one of only a handful of councils to improve year on year in the previous 12 months.

“Since Labour took over running MK Council the number of pothole complaints has halved and the satisfaction with our highways is at its highest ever, one of the best in the country. But we don’t want to rest at better, we want the best. The winter autumn and winter, as well as recent freezing temperatures mean we have work to do in the spring, and we are putting extra cash into getting more repairs done," said Cllr Darlington.

"Public satisfaction with our highways has also increased by over third, from 35% in 2014 to just under 50% last year, placing MK in the top ten of satisfaction ratings out of the 154 highway authorities in England. Neighbouring Buckinghamshire scores just 25%," she added.

Meanwhile 'Pothole' Pete' said: “Labour have improved our roads in MK and the evidence shows it, but we always want to go further. That’s why we are investing even more in fixing our roads and will continue to do so.”

An extra £2,843,000 pothole funding for MK Council has been announced by the government as part of a £500m plan to improve the nation's roads.

Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: "We know potholes are more than just a nuisance – they can be dangerous to drivers and cyclists alike, and cause damage to thousands of vehicles every year.

"The funding allocated will help councils ensure roads in their area are kept up to standard, and that the potholes that blight road users can be dealt with pro