Kent County Council (KCC) has announced plans to Reform Kent’s Roads starting with a major £67 million investment in the county’s 5,400-mile road network. The money will be used to tackle potholes, renew road surfaces and prevent future damage, marking one of the largest investments in Kent’s roads in recent years.
Linden Kemkaran, Leader of KCC, said:
“Kent’s residents have told us loud and clear that they are fed up with the poor state of our roads. Years of short-term, reactive funding from successive governments have left our road network in decline so we are taking action and Reforming Kent’s Roads, starting this year by investing more money in repairs and maintenance. We are also reviewing highways contracts to ensure Kent council taxpayers get the most value from them and urging the government to work with us to change how council road repairs are funded. Kent’s roads are a vital part of the UK’s infrastructure and we are the Gateway County, helping to keep UK supply chains flowing, connecting the UK to Europe and unlocking jobs and prosperity. Our plans to reform Kent’s roads are not only about repairing more of our roads, they are about building a smarter, more resilient road network for the future.”
Peter Osborne, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, added:
“So far, we’ve repaired more than 12,000 potholes – and we’re not stopping. Residents will have seen our crews out across the county, and while there’s still much to do, we’re starting to make real progress in fixing potholes and repairing roads thanks to our hardworking highways teams. We also rely on the public to help stay on top of road issues. If you spot a pothole or defect that could be dangerous, let us know. We have to use our funding wisely to fix the most urgent problems first – and your reports help us do that. If you report it, we’ll sort it. One resident recently praised the resurfacing of Spitfire Way in Hawkinge, calling it ‘a wonder to drive on’ and thanking the team for clear signage while the works took place. This kind of feedback shows the impact our teams are starting to have across Kent.”
To report a pothole or road defect that could be dangerous, visit KCC website.