Rugby MP's column: We can't trust Farage and Finch to fill the holes
The path to success is always under construction - and despite this Labour Government’s funding, so are Rugby’s roads.
I spend a lot of time in Rugby, Bulkington, and the villages knocking on doors and speaking to you all personally. Too often, I hear the familiar concerns about the state of our roads. I hear you, and as someone who lives in Rugby too, I experience it with you.
I am a strong advocate of physical activity. I enjoy running, but recently, my workout has become less about running and more about dodging potholes. There have also been instances in which I’ve had to swerve or slow down and risk damaging my car because of the state of our streets.
For far too long, the people of Rugby have suffered from a growing number of potholes, and they are furious. The Government’s traffic light system shows Warwickshire sitting stationary on amber. This is unacceptable, and I want to see us move to green.
The Government has allocated £1.6 billion for potholes in 2025, with £25 million of that going to Warwickshire. We have the money. We have the resources. So why do we still have the potholes?
Since January 1st, there have been 1,127 pothole reports in the Rugby Borough, with the County Council repairing 718. I commend the hard-working teams and their efforts, but this problem stems from the broader allocation of the Government’s funding.
National government and MPs do not actually have the power to fix local roads; we need to work with local authorities. In Rugby, this falls directly to the Reform-led Warwickshire County Council (WCC). As your MP, I apply pressure on organisations such as the local council to ensure that your needs are met. I do this through social media campaigns, letters, and meetings with local leaders.
I recently had a victory with the lighting in the Mill Road Tunnel, which is set to be improved; this was only possible with the help of residents who brought this matter to my attention and local Labour County Councillor Sarah Feeney. This was achieved by escalating concerns to WCC, writing to both them and the railway authorities, and running a successful campaign.
I called out Reform UK in the most recent Business Questions in Parliament, on their failure to restore both the roads and our faith in their capabilities to run the council and enact their promises. They have proven once again that they are not for the people and not up to the challenge – only this week we have seen a vote of no confidence in Reform UK’s leader on WCC, George Finch.
Will the Reform-led Warwickshire County Council deliver a smooth ride? Will they fulfill their promises and our roads? Or will they, like our streets, crack under pressure?