Restore Our Roads

We pay for our roads. Why are they falling apart?

Every year, drivers across the UK contribute billions through Vehicle Excise Duty, yet local councils receive only a fraction back for the roads we use every day. The shortfall is then pushed onto local budgets while potholes, worn surfaces and drainage failures keep spreading.

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Drivers pay in nationally Councils still face a funding gap Communities end up paying twice

We pay once

Drivers already contribute billions nationally through Vehicle Excise Duty from the vehicles they license and use.

We pay twice

When highway funding falls short, the pressure does not disappear. It lands back on local budgets and council taxpayers.

Our roads suffer

Potholes, poor drainage, repeated patching and worn surfaces are what underfunding looks like on the ground.

Our communities suffer

When councils keep plugging road gaps, there is less breathing room for the services residents depend on every day.

Local authority data

How your local roads funding looks

Select a local authority to see how many licensed vehicles it has, what drivers are estimated to pay in VED, and how much of the roads budget comes back from government. Fuel duty is not included in these figures.

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This pattern repeats across the country. Drivers pay substantial sums, yet councils are left trying to manage road maintenance with less than they need, pushing more strain back onto local finances.

Drivers' views

Real drivers. Real frustration.

These are sample campaign quotes for now. You can replace them later with real submissions from supporters.

“I pay my VED every year on time. Yet the same pothole has damaged my car twice this year. My council tax keeps going up to fix roads that should already be maintained with the tax I’ve already paid.”

Sarah, West Sussex

“It feels deeply unfair. We contribute through road tax, then pay again through council tax, and still see our local roads getting worse. That money could be supporting our schools and care services instead.”

David, Essex

“As a quiet, law-abiding driver I expect the system to be fair. We are paying twice over, yet the roads continue to decline and other vital services are squeezed.”

Michael, Greater Manchester

“Council tells us there isn’t enough money for roads, but drivers have already paid billions nationally. Where is it going? Libraries and social care are under pressure too.”

Emma, Lancashire

“Temporary patching is not a serious answer. We need proper maintenance and a fairer share of the money motorists already put into the system.”

James, Kent

“The anger is not just about potholes. It is about being told there is no money after drivers have already done their bit.”

Rachel, South Wales

Join the campaign

Help us Restore Our Roads

We are building a straightforward campaign around one core point: drivers already pay in, but councils are still left struggling to keep roads in proper condition. The more organised the evidence and the public pressure, the harder that is to ignore.

Volunteer for data research

Help gather local authority figures, cross-check funding documents and support FOI work.

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Share the campaign locally, point people to their snapshot and help build pressure in your area.

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Enough is enough

Let’s turn frustration into fair pressure.

We are asking for a fairer share of driver-paid revenue to be returned directly to local authorities for proper road maintenance, so councils can plan ahead instead of lurching from defect to defect.

Sign the petition now

Add your name and postcode to back the campaign demand.

Write to your MP

Use the template below, then open it in your email client or copy it and send it to your MP directly.

We have already paid. It is time more of that money came back to the roads people actually use.

MP email template

Dear [MP’s name],

As a resident of [constituency], I am concerned about the state of our local roads. Drivers nationally contribute substantial sums in Vehicle Excise Duty each year, yet local councils receive only a limited share back for highway maintenance.

In my area, drivers pay in heavily while the funding returned still leaves a large gap that must be covered locally. This places pressure on council tax and wider local services while roads continue to decline.

I ask you to press the Government to return a fairer share of driver-paid revenue to local authorities so roads can be properly maintained without placing even more strain on local taxpayers and local services.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]

The template will pull in your selected authority and entered postcode where possible.

Contact Your MP