Eamonn Holmes has launched a scathing attack on the Government’s approach to road repairs, labelling it “scandalous” and “dishonest”.
The host expressed his frustration on GB News, particularly regarding the allocation of road tax.
He explained: “They can get away with this. Your back axle brakes or wheel arch comes down or whatever the heck it happens to be and it’s not really Government’s problem.
“They think, oh yeah, we just turn a blind eye to that and off we go. And they save money on repairing roads and they get away with it for another year.
Eamonn Holmes fumed that ‘road tax doesn’t go to repair roads’
GB News
“This idea of paying road tax and road tax doesn’t go to repair roads, I think scandalous. I think it’s very dishonest.”
Eamonn’s comments come amidst growing concerns over the UK’s pothole crisis, with recent data revealing a significant increase in pothole-related vehicle breakdowns.
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Mark Morell, known as Mr Pothole, highlighted the economic impact of poorly maintained roads in the UK.
Speaking to GB News Mr Pothole said: “It’s costing the UK economy £14.4billion a year through badly maintained roads, so investing an additional £3billion a year would make economic sense because after ten years you’d be saying saving £7.2billion.
“I don’t accept there’s no economic argument not to invest in our roads. And then the ongoing thing of loss of life and serious injuries.”
He added: “Other countries do have a ringfenced road tax that’s put into a fund that’s only used to maintain the roads.
There are around 11 million potholes on UK roadsGETTY
“We lost that in about 1937. It’s been a good way for the Treasury to have extra income coming in, and the motorists are seen as a cash cow.
“I mean, when you see what’s coming forward, potentially we’ve increased in fuel duty and road fund licence, the pot that they’re pulling in, it was £50billion a year from motorists through all forms of taxation.
“Are we going to see that rising to 60 or £70billion yet there’s no money to maintain the network?
“I mean, you’re legally responsible for making sure your car is roadworthy, yet it seems that authorities don’t have to make sure that the road you’re using is fit for purpose.”
Mr Pothole campaigns for safer roads
GB News
Labour has pledged to fix an additional one million potholes across England every year.
This commitment was part of their manifesto, which described pothole issues as a “visible sign of the decline after 14 years of Conservative rule”.
However, Karen Bellairs, Halfords’ Managing Director of Garages, argues that this pledge is insufficient to address the widespread problem.
She stated: “They have pledged to fill one million potholes a year – but with 11 million potholes on our roads, and more appearing every day, this is simply going to plaster over the cracks.”