Honiton and Tiverton MP Neil Parish has requested that ‘vital’ funding to repair potholes and road damage continues.

Honiton MP Neil Parish has called on the Government to continue funding to repair potholes and damage to road surfaces caused by the severe winter weather.

Mr Parish has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Justine Greening, requesting that funding for Devon County Council be continued to help cover the cost of repairs.

Devon has received �12.9 million in winter damage grants from the Department for Transport in the last two years.

This helps to fund around 800 road report schemes across Devon, covering 80 miles of roads in more than 50 communities.

Mr Parish said: “I believe that an additional �5 million grant to spend in 2012/13 would allow Devon to target more rural roads and I have been informed by Devon County Council that with this additional funding they would expect to deliver around 400 schemes across Devon.

“It is vital to Devon’s economy that the road network is kept in usable condition. The rural nature of Devon and the poor transport infrastructure means that driving is a necessity for many people who rely on the roads to access public services and local businesses.”

In 2010 Devon County Council had to repair around 200,000 potholes, which was reduced to 130,000 last year.

He also invited the Secretary of State to meet with officers from Devon County Council to discuss additional funding of the winter damage grant.