The system deciding which York roads get money for repairs is broken, opposition councillors have said.

Opposition Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Coun Stephen Fenton said York’s roads and footpaths were increasingly deteriorating, posing a hazard to pedestrians, cyclists and people using mobility aids.

But Coun Pete Kilbane, York Council’s Labour deputy leader, said there would be more cash to repair roads than ever before which would help tackle a decades-long maintenance backlog.

It comes after the council unveiled plans worth a total of £16.5 million to repair roads, footpaths and other infrastructure across the city.

placeholder image — A York Council worker repairing a road.

A total of £10.7 million has been set aside for works on highways, with £1 million earmarked for drainage, £550,000 for York’s walls, £578,000 to replace street lights and £1.072 million for bridge maintenance.

Funding worth £13.9 million has already been allocated for projects with an extra £2.6 million set to come from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Council estimates put the total cost of clearing the backlog in restoring all roads it is responsible for at £102 million.

Liberal Democrat councillors have called for a Roads Rescue Fund to be created and funded with the £2.6 million in funding from the combined authority.

The council’s opposition group has said £1 million should be used to cover the cost of repairing more potholes by lowering the minimum depth for filling them from 4cm to 3cm.

Liberal Democrats said the other £1 million should be spent on repairs supported by local residents through a Ward Highways Fund, with the remaining £600,000 topping up wider maintenance plans.

Opposition transport spokesperson Coun Stephen Fenton said the ruling Labour group should engage constructively to ensure the extra £2.6 million is spent where it matters most to residents.

He added roads were becoming increasingly dangerous, contributing to the 218 pothole compension claims worth more than £20,000 paid out in the three years up to 2024/5.

Coun Fenton said: “That’s why it is important that the council uses this opportunity to make a real difference by making more road repairs that will last.”

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Nigel Ayre said residents would also be shocked that many areas were set to have no money spent on them, which a ward-based fund would address.

Coun Ayre said: “My own ward of Heworth Without for example was assessed as the worst in the city with 75 per cent of the network in the worst two categories, yet it receives not 1p of this budget.

“The system is clearly broken and these simple tweaks will ensure more people are able to cycle, walk, wheel and drive safely.”

Labour council Deputy Leader Coun Kilbane said the preventative approach they were taking was more cost-effective and would see more potholes filled right across the city.

The deputy leader said: “Thanks to Mayor David Skaith, York will have more roads maintenance funding than we’ve ever had, providing a great opportunity to continue tackling the maintenance backlog that’s built up over decades.

“The business-as-usual approach would have seen less of an uplift in funding coming to York, but we made a convincing, evidence-based case for more funding for our city, based on the heavy use of our roads.

“Tory and Lib Dem austerity destroyed our roads and Labour has set about fixing them.

“The real difference will be made by this Labour council approving York’s highest roads maintenance budget ever and from successfully securing an additional £2.6 million funding boost, all made possible by the mayor refusing to sit by and watch things continue in the same old way.”