NEW Government funding for pothole repairs has been welcomed by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox. Mr Cox is urging Devon County Council to bid for support to repair the extensive damage to local roads following the recent storms and bad weather. The £168-million Pothole Fund, announced in the 2014 Budget, has now opened for bids from councils, with applications closing soon. The funding is enough to repair more than three million potholes across Britain, and comes on top of £10-billion already being given to councils in England for local roads maintenance between 2010 and 2021. Local authorities who get funding will have to sign a pothole pledge setting out clearly how many potholes they will fix by March 2015 so that local communities can have confidence that action will be taken. Mr Cox said: 'The issue of potholes is of key importance in my constituency currently, with many people writing to me to inform me of the problems in their area as a result of the bad weather over the winter. 'This new funding provides a great opportunity to improve the roads in Torridge and West Devon and to deal with the blight of potholes. 'I have previously met with the head of Highways at Devon County Council to discuss what can be done to improve the road network across Devon, now I am urging him to make a bid for this money. 'Investing in Britain's roads and infrastructure is a key part of the Conservatives' long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain. 'By fixing Britain's roads we are supporting local businesses, and making life that bit easier for the hardworking people in my constituency who rely on them to get around.'