SPENDING on pothole repairs is about to be slashed.

Kirklees Council will cut its road maintenance budget from £16.9m in 2010/11 to just £9.7m in the next financial year, which begins on Monday.

The £7.2m reduction is part of a plan to slash £80m from the council’s budget by 2014.

A Kirklees spokesman said yesterday: “We are fully aware that pothole repairs and the maintenance of roads are key issues for many local people.

“The council’s view reflects this and we are doing all we can to carry out repairs as quickly as possible across the district.

“Two consecutive winters of very severe weather have created problems for authorities nationwide and Kirklees is no different. Clearly, the issue is compounded by Government funding cuts.” The spokesman added: “We estimate that the backlog of outstanding road maintenance work would require around £60m to remedy. Many other councils are in a similar position.

“The current round of repairs and resurfacing works has seen around 14,000 potholes filled since December, but the work is continuing.”

Meanwhile, the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey shows the number of potholes in England and Wales has passed the two million mark for the first time.