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Rural Roads
17 March 2026
Lead MP
Stuart Anderson
South Shropshire
Con
Responding Minister
Lilian Greenwood
Tags
Transport
Word Count: 9346
Other Contributors: 28
At a Glance
Stuart Anderson raised concerns about rural roads in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP asks for longer-term highways maintenance funding for councils through to 2032, as well as a greater focus on preventive measures rather than reactive repairs. He also requests support or approval for community action to help parish councils fix certain areas.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The MP is concerned about the poor condition of rural roads in South Shropshire, highlighting issues such as a significant increase in road defects reported to the Shropshire council, with more than 2,100 reports in January alone. He mentions that potholes are causing vehicle damage and near-misses for residents. The survey conducted by the MP showed that nearly 90% of respondents have had a near miss due to poor road conditions and 98% said the roads are in poor or very poor condition. Additionally, he notes that some areas are now impassable, affecting businesses and communities.
Anna Sabine
Lib Dem
Frome and East Somerset
As the MP for Frome and East Somerset, Anna Sabine highlighted that rural roads are essential despite carrying less traffic. She mentioned a pothole near Batcombe described as two feet wide and up to a foot deep, which has been there for months. Chronic underfunding leaves rural communities with dangerous roads.
Brian Mathew
Lib Dem
Melksham and Devizes
He pointed out the lack of coordination in scheduling multiple sets of roadworks at the same time, causing significant disruption to residents and businesses.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
Chris Hinchliff pointed out that rural roadside verges are often filled with litter, plastic bags, cans, bottles, and other debris, which is unacceptable. He urged investment in cleaning up the roadsides to instil civic pride.
Claire Perry
Con
Cherwell
The MP noted that the local council in South Shropshire is fixing only about half the potholes it fixed previously, and called for long-term certainty to ensure proactive approaches rather than short-term solutions.
Gideon Amos
Lib Dem
Taunton and Wellington
Taunton experienced the wettest week on record, resulting in a massive increase in reported potholes. Somerset's highways budget has been reduced by £20 million per year due to remoteness uplift removal.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Greg Smith highlighted the deteriorating state of rural roads in his constituency, noting a £18.6 billion backlog for road repairs and an average resurfacing rate of once every 90 years. He cited statistics from the AA and Royal Automobile Club regarding pothole-related call-outs and breakdown reports. Smith also pointed out that electric vehicles are heavier than traditional ones, leading to increased wear on roads, yet there is little acknowledgement or funding for this issue. Furthermore, he mentioned that HS2 has brought additional traffic onto rural roads, causing significant damage. He stressed the need for fair funding and accountability so those who damage roads pay to repair them.
Helen Maguire
Lib Dem
Epsom and Ewell
Discussed the presence of over 30 potholes on Longmead Road near Blenheim High School, suggesting a central highways team to address such issues effectively.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Responded to Joy Morrissey's intervention by pointing out that highway funding cuts under Conservative administration have likely contributed to road deterioration in rural areas. The Liberal Democrats have prioritised road repairs since taking power, creating three new repair teams and fixing over 25,000 potholes. However, the council faces a challenging winter as new potholes appear rapidly after being fixed.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Jamie Stone shared a personal experience of having a flat tyre due to hitting a pothole. He mentioned a constituent who incurred £1000 worth of car damage from a pothole. He criticised the Scottish Government for not allocating enough funds to rural areas despite receiving more funding.
Jessica Brown-Fuller
Lib Dem
Chichester
Illustrated the financial impact of poor roads on a driving instructor's business, highlighting daily income loss and repair costs due to potholes.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Highlighted insurance claims due to potholes and vehicle damage, arguing that the current strategy is penny wise and pound foolish.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Stressed the challenge in Scotland where local authorities like Scottish Borders Council are responsible for a vast distance of road but receive inadequate funding from the SNP Government compared to central belt areas.
John Milne
Lib Dem
Horsham
Traffic volume on rural routes has decreased, but damage has worsened as heavy goods vehicles use these roads. Villages need greater freedom to set speed limits and ensure commercial HGV satnavs follow best routes.
Joy Morrissey
Con
Beaconsfield
Noted disproportionate funding for road paving in urban areas compared to rural ones, emphasizing the need for better allocation of resources.
Katie Lam
Con
Weald of Kent
She described the dire state of roads in her constituency, where heavy lorries cause significant damage. She mentioned receiving over 500 responses related to street works from a survey she conducted.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Kieran Mullan expressed frustration over the Labour Government's decisions, including cutting social care spending plans and reducing road improvement funds for East Sussex county council. He called on the government to listen to rural MPs and councils and address these issues. Kieran Mullan asked if the Minister would give way on a point but did not specify which one, making it an intervention rather than a substantive contribution.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
He asked the Minister to ensure funding frameworks recognise rural roads equally, strengthen repair expectations, support coordination across local boundaries, and prioritise preventive maintenance over superficial repairs.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Asked if the issue lies with how local authorities manage resurfacing programmes, noting that Oxfordshire has deep potholes while Reading sees fewer issues after investing in road maintenance. Matt Rodda asked if the Minister would give way but did not provide additional detail or a substantive question.
Olly Glover
Lib Dem
Didcot and Wantage
Mr Glover highlighted the national impact of funding changes on rural areas, citing multiple examples from various counties. He pointed out specific road issues in his Oxfordshire constituency and criticised the previous Conservative Government's 'managed decline' policy implemented in 2014 due to national funding constraints. Mr Glover also emphasised the higher risk of accidents on poorly lit, narrow and fast rural roads compared to urban ones, citing statistics from Brake and Cycling UK. He questioned the adequacy of current road maintenance standards for cyclists and suggested learning from other countries' approaches to road design and repair.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Called on utility companies to inform residents about planned road works, allowing them to plan their journeys in advance. Mentioned his mother-in-law's constituency as an example. The MP emphasised the issue of road safety in rural areas, noting that it is not just about potholes but also about the impact on people's lives and businesses. He highlighted the need for a strategy that prioritises rural roads more than what has been done previously.
Pippa Heylings
Lib Dem
South Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire has an £800 million backlog in road repairs, with £169 million specifically for the greater Cambridge area. The Liberal Democrats have doubled investment to £73 million but require more funding from the Government.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
She highlighted the Labour Government's £7.3 billion funding for road repairs over four years, noting that in her constituency, rural areas rated their road conditions as only two out of 10.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
Intervening to point out that community infrastructure levy funds are often unused, suggesting these funds should be better utilised for road resurfacing and drainage improvements.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
He criticised the Labour-run Bradford council for uneven funding distribution across different areas of the district, questioning how the Government would hold local authorities accountable for fairer distribution of highways funds.
Roz Savage
Lib Dem
South Cotswolds
Roz Savage commended councillors in her constituency for their efforts to reduce potholes but highlighted that standing water exacerbates the problem. She suggested compensating farmers to keep gullies and ditches clear to drain the water off roads.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Banbury
He criticised Conservative governments for neglecting rural roads and highlighted the county council's failure in addressing road defects, stressing the importance of the Labour Government's funding support. Sean Woodcock requested that the Minister address concerns about poor road repairs in Oxfordshire and questioned whether changes to the funding formula have made rural areas worse off. He highlighted that newly repaired roads in Banbury had already disintegrated, exposing under-street cables.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Steve Yemm pointed out the significant funding increase from £18 million to almost £50 million for road maintenance in Nottinghamshire but criticised the county council's lack of action despite these funds being available. He urged the council to deliver safe and properly maintained roads.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
The council has seen a 31% budget cut, leaving rural communities with inadequate road maintenance. The Lake District national park's roads are crucial for tourism but face neglect due to Government funding cuts.
Government Response
Lilian Greenwood
Government Response
The Government Minister responded to concerns about funding cuts and uncertainty for Shropshire council, stating that the authority received £23.2 million in 024-25 and is set to receive £33.7 million in 2025-26 for local roads maintenance. It was noted that councils now have multi-year funding certainty of four years. The minister highlighted record funding of £7.3 billion over four years and an additional £500 million for local roads maintenance this year as part of the largest uplift to the highways maintenance block in England's history. Each local highway authority is required to publish clear, accessible information on road condition and maintenance plans. The minister also mentioned updating guidance through the well-managed highway infrastructure code of practice and providing funding for climate resilience workshops.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.