Britain’s crumbling roads have become so patchy drivers are encountering six potholes every mile.

Cash-strapped councils are being given almost £1.6 billion next year to repair the equivalent of seven million potholes.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged local authorities to “get on with the job” of fixing pothole-plagued roads.

Sir Keir said damaged roads “can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs”.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “This is the biggest one-off road maintenance funding settlement councils in England have ever been given, so we have high hopes it’s the turning point that ends the degradation of our roads and finally delivers fit-for-purpose, smooth surfaces for drivers and all other road users.

“What’s particularly positive is that this announcement is not just about giving councils money to fix dangerous potholes, it comes with the important caveat of using the money wisely by carrying out preventative maintenance to stop more potholes appearing in the future.

“It’s also good to see the Government proactively encouraging drivers to report potholes, requiring councils to collect the right data to capture the true state of their road networks and incentivizing authorities that use the money to good effect.”

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Drivers and riders across England will be pleased to see this significant cash injection into smoothing out the local road network. With most journeys starting and ending on local roads, it is vital to restore the structural integrity of the streets we live on.

“We urge councils to focus on permanent and innovative repairs rather than adopting a ‘patch and run’ approach. Better maintenance of the road network is the number one concern of drivers as damage costs a fortune and potholes can be fatal for those on two wheels.

“Clamping down on poor works carried out by utilities companies and overrunning roadworks is sorely needed, and we are pleased to see action being taken here. Widening lane rental approval to local Mayors should reduce red tape, and we hope it means more roads can be opened in first class condition.”

The Treasury announced in the Budget in October that total local road maintenance funding in 2025/26 will be nearly £1.6 billion, representing a £500 million uplift compared with the previous 12 months

The funding allocations include:

– More than £327 million for the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber.

– More than £372 million for the East Midlands and West Midlands.

– More than £244 million for the East of England.

– More than £378 million for local authorities in South East, South West, and London.

The DfT said it will make sure highway authorities “spend the money wisely”, collect accurate data and deliver “proactive maintenance” before potholes start to form.

A quarter of the increased funding will be held back until authorities have “shown that they are delivering”, the DfT added.

Council spending on road maintenance has stagnated over the past year.

In the 12 months following March 2023, local authorities spent a total of £4.81 billion on their roads, the Department for Transport (DfT) said, which is the highest level – when adjusted for inflation – since 2011.

Yet it is an increase of just 0.9 per cent from last year’s £4.77 billion spend on road fixes. Inflation in March was 10.1 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Minor highways, including B-roads, C-roads and unclassified roads, are increasingly being left to crumble away.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.

“Through our Plan for Change we’re determined to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking people and improve living standards. That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again – with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Potholes have plagued motorists for far too long, but today’s record investment will start to reverse a decade of decline on our country’s roads.

“Millions will drive home for Christmas today, but too many will have to endure an obstacle course to reach their loved ones. Potholes damage cars, and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe. We are investing £1.6bn to fix up to seven million more potholes next year.

“This government is firmly on the side of drivers. Every area of England will get extra cash to tackle this problem once and for all. We have gone beyond our manifesto commitment to back motorists and help raise living standards in every part of the country.”