£512m to repair West Midlands' potholes will boost economy, says Transport Secretary

Mr McLoughlin, who was in the Dudley borough as part of a region-wide visit yesterday, told the Express & Star the cash boost showed the government was planning for the country's economic future.

A total of £512 million will be spent on road maintenance - including repairing potholes - across the West Midlands.

The money - part of a £6 billion fund for local authorities across the country - will be spent over the next six years.

Mr McLoughlin, a former Cannock miner, said: "Having a strong transport network is important when it comes to attracting business and investment.

"We had two winters where a lot of damage was done to the roads and that can't all be sorted overnight.

"I am very pleased I have been able to secure this money from the Chancellor to improve and repair our highways.

"It shows that at a time where the economic situation is a difficult one, the Government is willing to prioritise road repairs and plan for the country's economic future," he said during his visit to Kingswinford.

A total of £104m has been allocated to fund repairs in Staffordshire while Wolverhampton is getting £11.7m, Walsall £12.6m, Sandwell £16.8m and Dudley £15.8m.

Meanwhile, Mr McLoughlin defended rail fare increases which came into force yesterday (FRI) - the same morning passengers faced delays of up to an hour on services through Birmingham's New Street station following a signal problem.

The average fare of a rail ticket in Britain has risen by 2.2 percent.

Mr McLoughlin, who visited New Street yesterday morning, said: "I would like not to have to increase fares, it would be much easier not to.

"I am well aware of people's economic problems but we also want to see investment in a good railway system.

"Nobody likes fair increases. I don't like them. But improvements have to be paid for and invested in," he said.