More than £1 million has been spent fixing potholes in Ipswich in the past year, but one Suffolk MP believes the county is trapped in a cycle of patching roads instead of preventing potholes.

Patrick Spencer has taken argument to Parliament this week, where he called for more money to be spent on preventing roads from falling apart, reports the Ipswich Star. The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, led a debate on potholes and road maintenance in Suffolk yesterday, 4 November.

Mr Spencer said drivers were paying the price for deteriorating roads.

“For people in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, potholes damage cars, make everyday journeys more difficult and leave families facing bills they should not have to pay,” he said.

“We cannot keep filling the same holes while the roads underneath continue to deteriorate.

“People deserve to know how much investment is going into proper, lasting repairs.”

During the debate, he aksed ministers how much money is being spent on preventing potholes and whether rural counties such as Suffolk are getting enough funding to maintain their roads.

Suffolk was given a red highways rating by the Government, but Suffolk County Council says the assessment does not accurately reflect the condition of the roads or the work being done to prevent potholes.

(Picture: Mapillary)