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Government earmarks £2.1 million for pothole repairs across Kent

Kent’s roads are to benefit from a government cash injection of £2.1m to repair 41,000 potholes across the county.

The Department for Transport has today confirmed that Kent will receive the cash as part of a national fund to fix damaged roads.

VIDEO: Hopefully we'll have less flat tyres with more than 40,000 pot holes fixed!

But it was unclear whether the money represented additional funding on top of £1.4m the government announced in April.

Potholes. Stock pic.
Potholes. Stock pic.

The government has also announced that there will be millions spent on upgrading two main roads - the A252 in Ashford which will get £14.1m and A290 in Canterbury, which will get £8.6m.

However, the government has remained tight-lipped about the third Thames Crossing amid speculation that an announcement is imminent.

We revealed last week that KCC had been left with a £6m repair bill to fix a 17-km stretch of the Thanet Way - the A299 - and was facing having to cut other road budgets to do so.

Kent could share in a huge pot of cash for roads. Picture: Chris Davey
Kent could share in a huge pot of cash for roads. Picture: Chris Davey

And in April, KCC said that its roads were so badly in need of resurfacing that it had a £200m backlog of repairs and that the bill would rise to £350m in ten years based on current levels of investment.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “This is a government that steps up, not back which is why we are investing record amounts into improving our roads across the country.”

“This investment is over and above the £23bn we are spending to get motorists to their destinations quickly, more easily and safely.”

A pothole. Library image.
A pothole. Library image.

“The schemes announced today are focused on relieving congestion and providing important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future - removing the barriers to help make an economy that works for everyone.”

However, while the news may be good it has taken the county council by surprise. It said it had yet to be notified about the details.

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