Local MSP Craig Hoy has pledged new funding for Dumfriesshire drivers after the Scottish Conservatives recently announced plans for a National Pothole Action Fund aimed at tackling badly damaged roads.
The proposed fund would provide councils with dedicated, long-term support to resurface roads properly, shifting away from short-term repairs that continually fail.
Moffat-based Mr Hoy, who is also the Scottish Conservative candidate for Dumfriesshire, backed the proposals at his party’s national conference, saying poor road conditions have become a daily frustration for residents and businesses across the region.
Across Dumfriesshire, roads linking towns and villages such as Moffat, Langholm, Lockerbie, Annan and the surrounding rural routes are increasingly scarred by deep potholes, with drivers reporting vehicle damage, safety concerns and rising repair costs. Mr Hoy said rural areas are often left waiting longest for repairs despite relying most heavily on car travel.
Craig Hoy MSP said: “Dumfriesshire’s roads are riddled with nightmare potholes after years of chronic SNP cuts to council budgets. Hard-pressed residents are sick of driving on roads that feel like the surface of the moon because the local council simply doesn’t have the resources to fix them. It’s damaging cars, putting safety at risk and costing people their hard-earned money.
“That’s why my party has set out a bold plan for a National Pothole Action Fund, giving councils the resources they need to properly fix roads with comprehensive kerb-to-kerb resurfacing, not just shoddy patch jobs. Rural areas like Dumfriesshire rely on roads more than urban central belt areas, and we deserve better in the Southwest.
“This common-sense proposal would make roads safer, cut vehicle damage and save councils and taxpayers money in the long run.”
