Scottish Conservative and Unionist Liz Smith for Mid Scotland and Fife says the number of potholes recorded in Perth and Kinross in recent years is “astonishing”.
Responses to a series of Freedom of Information requests from the Scottish Conservatives have revealed that over 400,000 potholes have been reported to Scotland’s councils since 2021.
The true figure is likely to be even higher as one council did not respond, while another did not provide figures for this year.
In Perth and Kinross, a total of 7,983 potholes have been recorded since 2021/22, with Liz Smith MSP placing the blame firmly on the SNP’s “savage” cuts to local council budgets.
Liz Smith MSP says the cuts year after year to Perth and Kinross Council’s budget mean local roads are “crumbling” and motorists are paying a “heavy price”.
She added that the state of the roads in Perth and Kinross is “appalling” and that potholes are one of the most common complaints in her MSP inbox.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Liz Smith CBE MSP said: “The roads in Perth and Kinross are in an appalling state.
“The SNP’s savage cuts to local council budgets year after year mean they simply don’t have the resources needed to repair the pothole-ridden roads.
“As a result, we are seeing an astonishing number of potholes being reported by local motorists and I know from my own inbox that potholes are one of the most common sources of complaints I receive from constituents.
“Our local roads are crumbling and motorists are paying a heavy price. They are having to dodge potholes every time they jump in the car – they are virtually unavoidable.
“It is time for the SNP to finally give councils a fair funding deal to ensure the number of potholes on our roads in Perth and Kinross is drastically reduced, rather than the number recorded continuing to spiral out of control.”
