EXTRA council funding will go towards fixing potholes.

Essex County Council has pledged to spend £3million in revenue funding on fixing potholes, which will be combined with a £2.6million investment by the Government.

Repairs will start this month, despite damage being caused by snow dating back several months.

Ian Grundy, the county councillor responsible for highways, said: “The Government recently awarded Essex another £2.6million to add to the £3million in revenue funding we have already pledged to invest in pothole repairs starting this month.

“We already have 30 crews working on both urgent make safe fixes and the longer-term and bigger jobs of permanent repairs across the county.

“Of course, it will take some time to work through the damage caused by the snowy weather recently, so we are asking road users to be patient.

“But rest assured we are getting on with the job and getting to grips with the problem across the county.

“A huge part of the fight against potholes is the council’s £50 million capital investment this year to resurface whole roads or long sections.”

Council leader David Finch announced on top of the cash they would allocate for potholes, another £1.2 million in match funding will be shared out to Local Highways Panels.

However, Essex county councillor Dave Harris, who represents Maypole ward, questioned the investment.

He challenged the county council at a full council meeting.

Mr Harris said after the meeting: “They have pledged the money but only on the condition it can be match funded.

“If borough councils don’t put the money in, it won’t happen.

“I asked the leader of the council what would happen to that money if it wasn’t match funded as borough councils across the county are strapped for cash.

“They aren’t able to put money into pothole repair.

“They said the money would just be taken back again and I’m not impressed, what we want is frontline money targeted in the right places.

“This money may never materialise.”

At the meeting Mr Harris was heard saying: “What will happen to the money at the end of the year if it is not taken up by the district council?”

Mr Finch answered in one line: “We will use that money elsewhere as appropriate.”