Potholes and Footpaths – Progress Made but More to Do

The recent cold spell has done nothing to improve the condition of footpaths and roads, as I saw for myself while caught up in a tailback on the A14 just outside Rougham. The good news is that National Highways started repairs immediately. I’m grateful to them for their swift action.

Elsewhere, the picture is a little patchier, mirroring the state of the roads and footpaths. 

Last year Suffolk received over £11.7 million in government funding to repair roads and fix potholes — part of a record £1.6 billion national investment to improve safety. The investment is paying dividends already, as demonstrated by the dramatic drop in the amount of compensation paid to motorists for damage to their vehicles by Suffolk County Council, who are responsible for road repairs.

In 2023-2024, the Council was obliged to pay out over £33,000 of tax-payers’ money to motorists in compensation. In 2024-2025 however, and following the additional government investment, that figure dropped by almost 50%, to £18,248.

There’s more to do, however. It’s important that the government’s money is invested equitably across Suffolk and shared between town and rural communities. I will be monitoring where the money is spent to make sure East Suffolk and our villages get the investment they deserve.

And footpaths need attention too, especially in Stowmarket town centre where a number of constituents have shared with me their concerns about uneven and damaged paving which pose a risk to safety and undermine accessibility for people using wheelchairs or mobility aids. I have written to Suffolk County Council to request urgent repairs, a schedule of works and a timetable for completion.