Simon Jupp, Member of Parliament for East Devon, has welcomed an extra £6.6 million of highways maintenance funding announced by the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper MP.

This significant capital boost for the current financial year is part of the biggest-ever uplift in government funding for local road improvements, with Devon County Council set to receive an extra £208 million for its highways budget over the next 11 years as part of a national £8.3 billion investment.

Secured through the redirection of HS2 funding, this further investment into Devon’s roads follows the extra £9.4 million previously announced by the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt MP, for Devon County Council’s highways in March. The extra money will be used by the council to repair road surfaces, fix potholes, and improve journeys for drivers across the county.

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said; “This major investment to back Devon’s drivers is something I worked towards during my time at the Department for Transport. Devon is getting a large chunk of funding from the Transport Secretary’s long-term plan to repair roads across the country. On top of the £9.4 million that Devon’s Conservative MPs secured earlier this year, it means journeys will be smoother, safer and faster.”