MP for West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox has welcomed new dedicated funding from the Government to fill nearly one-million potholes across the UK, including more than 35,000 in Devon, but said more is still needed to be done to bring roads up to the expected standard.

Local motorists will benefit from the dedicated funding after the Government announced that nearly £50-million of funding will be made available to local councils over the next 12 months. Devon is set to receive nearly £2-million – the highest amount awarded to any of the 118 authorities in the UK benefiting from the scheme.

Devon will receive £1,952,000 in the 2016/17 financial year to fill 36,830 potholes at a predicted cost of £53 per pothole.

In total, Devon will receive £38,785,000 in 2016/17 as part of the government’s £6.1-billion investment for local road maintenance by 2020/21. Local highway authorities decide how this money is spent, including upgrades to road surfacing, bridges, street lighting and other local road maintenance projects that improve journeys for motorists and cyclists.

Mr Cox said: ‘In this rural area it is essential that we maintain our road network and that our villages and hamlets don’t become cut off due to badly damaged local roads. I have long fought for greater funding for such road repairs and have launched a parliamentary petition with this aim in mind.

‘While I am pleased that Devon County Council has been awarded a significant sum for vital road repairs, there remains a great deal to be done to bring our roads back to the standard that is expected and I will continue to fight for greater funding with this in mind.’