Spending on roads in Scotland drops by £150m in a year – Scottish Labour
Spending on Scotland’s roads dropped by £150 million in real terms last year, according to analysis by Scottish Labour.
The party said the reduction from 2022-23 and 2023-24 amounted to a tenth of the overall roads budget.
Direct spending by the Scottish Government fell by £70 million in real terms, while road spending by councils dropped by £80 million, it said.
Ahead of campaigning in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5, Anas Sarwar criticised the SNP over the cuts.
He said: “Scotland’s roads are causing misery for drivers daily – from the potholes on local roads to the dangerous state of major roads like the A9.
“In communities right across Scotland, our crumbling roads are a damning symbol of the SNP’s failure and the decline it has presided over.
“Despite the dismal state of Scottish roads, the SNP government decimated funding for roads across Scotland.
“In Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Labour is investing in improving roads despite SNP cuts – but [SNP candidate] Katy Loudon voted against this funding.
“It’s clear only one party can deliver the new direction people across Scotland so badly needs and that is Scottish Labour.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has provided councils with a record £15 billion this year, a real terms increase of 5.5%.
“Local authorities have the autonomy to allocate that funding to meet local needs and priorities including road repair and upkeep.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “The Labour Party has let down people at a national level and now appears to be criticising their own record locally.
“Despite record funding from the SNP Scottish Government, Labour-run South Lanarkshire Council have once again let down the people of this area by failing to fix the roads.
“Not only is Labour’s candidate unable to defend his own party’s record, but their party leader is now criticising Labour-run South Lanarkshire Council.
“They’re all over the place and the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse deserve better. Only the SNP offers that.”