Worcestershire Roads Face Criticism as Council Proposes £1.5m Budget Cut

A former Worcestershire highways chief has criticised plans to cut £1.5 million from the county’s roads budget, warning the move could have long-term consequences for road quality.

The reduction would see existing council funding replaced with £1m from the Department for Transport, resulting in an overall drop in highways maintenance spending of £1.5m.

Marc Bayliss, who served as cabinet member for highways until May 2025 and is now chair of Worcestershire Conservatives, said the proposal risked undoing years of investment.

“I’m really concerned about what this means for the condition of our roads,” he said. “Highway maintenance is about protecting what we already have, and once standards start to slip, it becomes much harder and more expensive to put things right. The quality of our roads has been a jewel in Worcestershire’s infrastructure.”

Bayliss added that roads should be treated as a long-term investment. “Roads aren’t something you fix for one year. They’re built to last five or even ten years, and the cost is spread over that time. Cutting back now just stores up bigger problems for the future.”

However, council finance chief Rob Wharton defended the proposals, stressing the ongoing financial pressures facing local authorities.

“The council’s budget, along with most other county councils, continues to face significant financial pressures,” he said. “The budget is essentially fixed in cash terms and its ability to raise income is limited, which means every opportunity for savings and income must be explored.

“As part of the cabinet paper, a wide range of proposed savings options were included for cabinet to recommend going forward to full council to approve on January 15. If agreed, these plans will form part of the draft 2026/27 budget to be agreed at full council at the end of February. Some of these proposals will need further detailed work ahead of any action taking place.”

Bayliss warned that the cuts could result in many miles of Worcestershire roads missing out on resurfacing and preventative maintenance. “This kind of cut is short-sighted and ultimately self-defeating,” he said. “The council still has time to rethink this, and I hope they do.”