The Scottish Conservatives have pledged to invest £100million in a new “Pothole Action Fund” to repair the nation’s crater-filled roads if they take power.
The plan was unveiled yesterday as MSPs from across the country bemoaned the state of their local streets during a private member’s debate at Holyrood.
Scottish Government ministers offered councils an extra £10million to tackle the pothole problem after the bad weather in March, but many claimed that the investment did not go far enough.
The Tory plan would set aside £100million in a roads maintenance fund over the term of the next Scottish Parliament, with local authorities then asked to bid to access the cash.
The party said it would be equivalent to £20million per year, and help to fix nearly two million potholes over the course of the parliament.
Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: “We all rely on our roads but they are now plagued with potholes and poor road surfaces which is not just damaging cars but endangering cyclists and motorcyclists.
“Beyond our concerns for public safety, this systematic under-investment is slowing our economy and costing local councils a fortune in compensation for car owners.
“The Scottish Conservatives recognise the importance of a well-maintained road infrastructure and we are willing to invest in it with this new national fund.”
During the Holyrood debate, Highland MSP Kate Forbes highlighted the huge network of council-run roads in the region and called on the local authority to publish a repair programme.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: “We will continue to invest additional monies where we can. The £10million that Derek Mackay announced on the back of the Beast from the East was just one example of that.
“I’ll work hand-and-hand with local authorities to see how I can be helpful in relation to my role in the trunk road network, but also recognising where we can be helpful to local authorities in this regard, we absolutely will.”