Deterioration of the road network another symptom of Tory austerity says Boylan.
Sinn Féin’s Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has said the deterioration of the roads network is a symptom of Tory austerity.
Speaking after it was revealed that £1.7m in compensation was paid for vehicles damaged by potholes between 2016 and 2019, the Sinn Féin infrastructure spokesperson said: “This figure demonstrates what happens when money for vital public services is stripped away by Tory- imposed austerity.
“The North has had to deal with austerity for a decade now. This has meant hundreds of millions cut out of our block grant.
“This has led to the deterioration of our roads, huge pressures on public transport and the over-capacity of our sewage infrastructure, the latter of which is directly impeding development in the North.
“The multitude of potholes on our road network is a total disregard for investing in vital services that people use every day.”
Cathal Boylan added: “It also lacks long term financial sense, as now we have a £1 billion backlog for dealing with our roads structural maintenance.
“We need to see the British government living up to the commitments it made in the New Decade, New Approach document and providing adequate funding to infrastructural projects.”