Lib Dems will start to address 'pothole city' with extra £3m

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 30th Apr 2006

Liberal Democrats in Sheffield are promising to spend more on sorting out the state of Sheffield's roads if they win power in the May 4th local elections. Lib Dems believe that local road users are fed up of Sheffield's 'pothole city' image.

Lib Dems are proposing that 5% of the councils capital receipts are earmarked for road repairs. A capital receipt is income gained from selling properties and land. This would mean a £3m boost for the budget over three years. Crucially the Liberal Democrats proposal uses money from within existing budgets, so council taxpayers wouldn't face larger bills.

The election commitment was launched in Gleadless Valley with local residents and the local Lib Dem campaigner Denise Reaney. Lib Dems believe the amount of potholes that plague our roads is a major issue with local people, but it's an issue ignored by the Labour Council.

The extra £3m for sorting out the state of the roads is one of the Lib Dems major commitments for the upcoming local elections. The elections in Sheffield are on a knife-edge. The controlling Labour group would only have to lose two seats for them to lose control of the council.

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats, said: -

"Its clear that the state of our roads is a huge issue with many council taxpayers in Sheffield. The 'pothole' city image that Sheffield has acquired due to Labours lack of investment needs to be addressed, and our proposal would do just that"

"We believe that this commitment is in line with what many people in Sheffield want to see from their local council. People will be faced with a choice in the local elections next week, either more money to invest in our roads under the Lib Dems or further neglect under Labour"

Denise Reaney, local Lib Dem Gleadless Valley campaigner, said: -

"Local residents in the Meersbrook and Heeley tell me that potholes are a major concern to them. They are fed up of seeing our roads deteriorate and become an eyesore as well as a major safety hazard"

"Labour have neglected our roads, it's only the Lib Dems in Sheffield who have committed to extra spending on improving road surfaces. Under the Lib Dems residents in the Gleadless Valley area would start to see their local concerns addressed"