Labour’s increased spending on road resurfacing and pavement replacements since we took over from the Lib Dems and Tories in 2006. They left Lambeth’s roads pitted with potholes and our pavements were judged the worst in London. Now many residents such as those in St Saviour’s Road and Sulina Road are seeing newly resurfaced highways, and we’ve doubled the number of pavements replaced – although I know there’s still much more to be done.

This year’s severe winter weather – the coldest for 30 years - has created huge numbers of new potholes in roads up and down the country, and Lambeth’s no exception. Labour’s been able to pay for additional work to fill in the worst of these new potholes because our careful management of the council’s finances means we had savings to fall back on – in contrast to the empty coffers the Lib Dems left behind. Since January, Labour’s filled in 850 potholes in Lambeth, and the number will hit 1000 by the end of the month.

But there’s still a big investment needed to pay for more road resurfacing and new pavements. That’s why Labour’s new manifesto promises the biggest-ever programme to get the work done – paid for by selling off surplus office blocks that are no longer needed as we make the council more efficient and get more staff working flexible hours that are more convenient for people who use the council’s services.

In this week’s national budget the Government announced a special fund of £100 million to help local councils deal with the increase in potholes since last winter. Lambeth’s been promised a share, and I was delighted to welcome Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis to Herne Hill on budget day to show him how Lambeth’s getting on with the work to fix potholes. Andrew said he’ll make sure Lambeth gets a share of the new funding on top of the money Labour’s already made available locally. I know everyone who’s worried about the state of our roads will welcome that news.

Steve helps Lambeth's team fill in over 1000 potholes following the severe winter weather