A FIFE MSP has raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the scale of the pothole problem in the Kingdom. 

Alex Rowley accused the SNP government of causing “suffering” to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians over the condition of the roads due to “chronic underfunding" of local authorities".

It comes after a Freedom of Information request revealed that the total estimated cost of the current repair backlog for Scotland’s carriageways comes to more than £2.47 billion, up 47 per cent since 2022.

The figures say that fixing Fife's roads would now cost more than £100m, two years ago it was £77.6m. 

Mr Rowley, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: "The middle of the general election campaign is an appropriate time to have a debate on the terrible condition of Scotland’s roads as it is something constituents repeatedly raise with me on the doors.

“This isn’t just an issue that impacts drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can also suffer damage or indeed injury from poorly maintained road networks.

“I also do not think it is acceptable that local authorities take all the blame for the situation we find ourselves in – across the country, councils have had to suffer disproportionate levels of cuts over the years, meaning they have had to make ever more difficult decisions on where to channel funding and what they are prioritising. As a result, the roads have suffered.

“I am calling on the Scottish Government to find the money necessary to repair Scotland’s broken road networks, to support local authorities in dealing with the critical level of maintenance and repair required and to bring an end to this ever-worsening situation.”

READ MORE: Fife Council aim to drive improvements in road repairs

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In the debate, the MSP called for the cabinet secretary of transport, Fiona Hyslop, to stop blaming councils and find the investment required to get potholes fixed, "no matter whether a council or the government is responsible for the road”. 

Ms Hyslop said: "I recognise that there are many calls being made on council budgets. However, it would be wrong for the Scottish Government and parliament to tell local authorities how to manage and best allocate their resources."

She also pointed out that the councils' share of the Scottish Government's budget rose from 31 to 32 per cent. 

Ms Hyslop added: "Although that is a small increase, it is still an increase that has had to be made to the detriment of other parts of the budget that are within the Scottish Government’s control."

She said the UK Government’s spring budget "falls far short of what we need in order to deliver all the improvements that we would like to make to Scotland’s infrastructure".

The minister went on: "That is why, in the UK election, we are calling for an emergency budget to address the hole of more than £1.3 billion in Scotland’s capital budget."