Russell Findlay has today outlined his party’s plans to tackle Scotland’s pothole epidemic, which he says is “a monument to two decades of neglect and failure by the SNP”.
The Scottish Conservative leader would introduce a National Pothole Action Fund, to provide Scotland’s cash-strapped councils with the resources to properly fix local roads.
That would allow for kerb-to-kerb resurfacing of pockmarked roads, rather than them being left to crumble further or given quick, patch-up repairs, and the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the potholes didn’t return.
The party would also give the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner more power to take enforcement action against companies who fail to complete roadworks properly.
Findlay, who visited one of Glasgow’s countless pothole-scarred roads on the campaign trail this morning, said the “appalling and dangerous” state of local roads was proof of the SNP’s “contempt for motorists”.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Scotland’s pothole epidemic is a monument to two decades of neglect and failure by the SNP.
“The state of our local roads is appalling and dangerous – and the buck stops with John Swinney, whose government has starved councils of the resources needed to repair them.
“The Scottish Conservatives would fix this crisis by introducing a new National Pothole Action Fund that would give councils the money for kerb-to-kerb resurfacing and to buy state-of-the-art equipment to prevent the return of potholes.
“The SNP’s contempt for motorists is blindingly obvious from the craters in local roads to low emission zones, hiked parking fees, the threat of new congestion and boundary charges and, of course, their failure to dual key trunk roads.
“This war on motorists will continue if John Swinney returns to Bute House. That’s why voters should back the Scottish Conservatives on the peach ballot paper – it’s their secret weapon to stop an SNP majority.”
Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Sue Webber said: “Drivers are sick of being treated as pariahs by the SNP.
“It’s a disgrace that they are having to swerve past countless potholes to avoid damaging their cars.
“Our National Pothole Action Fund would ensure local roads are properly repaired, rather than being ignored or given cheap patch-up jobs by cash-strapped councils.
“The Scottish Conservatives are on the side of hard-pressed motorists. We recognise that a car is a necessity, not a luxury, for many people.
“That’s why we would ban the introduction of new low emission zones and veto congestion charges or tolls being imposed.”
Notes to editors
Relevant section of the Scottish Conservative manifesto:
The Scottish Conservatives would introduce a new National Pothole Action Fund to fix our country’s potholes for good. This fund would provide money directly to councils to fix potholes in their area, but it would also be used to buy state-of-the-art equipment that would enable kerb-to-kerb resurfacing of roads so that potholes are fixed comprehensively.
We would provide the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner with more power to take enforcement action against companies who are failing to complete roadworks properly.