MP welcomes extra cash for Dudley roads (From Stourbridge News)

MP welcomes extra cash for Dudley roads

3:30pm Monday 7th January 2013 in Local

STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James has welcomed news that Dudley will receive £726,000 of extra funding for transport from 2013-15.

The borough will see £473,000 provided in 2013-14 and a further £253,000 in 2014-15 - Chancellor George Oborne confirmed as part of a £215m roads maintainence package announced in his autumn statement.

The funding can be used for road resurfacing, maintenance or repairs to bridges, or to make repairs to transport infrastructure damaged by recent bad weather.

The Chancellor also announced a £170m local pinch point fund to improve highways and cut congestion which local transport authorities can apply for grants from.

Margot said: “I am delighted the Chancellor has recognised the need to maintain and upgrade the UK’s transport infrastructure.

“A well-maintained, efficient and safe transport system is essential so I am very pleased Dudley will be benefiting from additional funding and will be interested to see what it is spent on locally.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley’s Conservative spokesperson for transport, added: “The announcement of this funding should result in the resurfacing programme which the Conservatives put in place being maintained and not cut.

“The budget for resurfacing and the programme officers had planned should be restored so we can continue the ongoing battle with restoring our roads and highways to an acceptable standard.”