Moray Council spent over £1 million repairing potholes in 2023/24
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MORAY Council spent in excess of £1 million in 2023/24 repairing potholes across the region.
That’s according to a Freedom of Information request sent by Moray MP Douglas Ross.
The figure (£1,052,220.72) represents a near £280,000 increase on the previous year with Mr Ross blaming “savage and sustained” Scottish Government cuts for leaving the local authority with “ever-higher” bills for pothole repairs.
Mr Ross said: “These soaring costs are a result of savage and sustained SNP cuts to local authorities like Moray, meaning they simply do not have the resources to repair our pothole-ridden roads.”
He added: “Moray has been short-changed by the nationalist government in Edinburgh and despite the best efforts of council workers, local roads are becoming increasingly unfit for purpose.
“It is hard-pressed motorists who are paying the price for SNP-Green ministers not giving Moray Council a fair funding deal.
“Vehicles are being damaged but the council are simply not in a position to offer compensation.
“These costs for pothole repairs cannot be allowed to spiral further out of control, but Moray Council desperately needs SNP-Green ministers to give them sufficient resources to fix our local roads.”
The council spent £774,644.08 repairing potholes across Moray in 2022/23 and £792,832.39 the year prior.
But an increase in the number of potholes identified as needing fixed in 2023/24 has seen repair costs rise markedly.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead says austerity is to blame for the tough situation facing councils across Scotland.
Mr Lochhead said: “It is astonishing hypocrisy for Douglas Ross to demand more money for local authorities from the Scottish Government given the damage his party has done to public funds, having caused inflation to soar and having imposed 15 years of Tory austerity.
“The Scottish Government has been dealt the toughest budget in the history of devolution and in contrast to this out of touch Tory Government, SNP ministers have prioritised investment in public services.
“Despite the tough financial situation facing the public sector – driven by decisions taken by the UK Chancellor – the Scottish Government has delivered a real terms increase in funding for local government.”
