Bracknell’s roads are in an “appalling state of repair,” councillors have said as they appealed for more government money to fix the problem.

In a letter to Bracknell’s MP James Sunderland, the councillors said government funding for road repairs had fallen – and asked him to make an “urgent intervention.”

The letter said: “Many residential roads across Bracknell Forest are in an appalling state of repair, falling far short of the standards residents and local businesses should reasonably be able to expect.”

“We are writing to ask for your urgent intervention to secure additional highways maintenance funding.”

READ MORE: More than one in ten Bracknell roads need resurfacing

Conservative MP Mr Sunderland told Bracknell News he took credit for a £377,660 grant awarded to the council in April to repair potholes. He also said that some of the money freed up for roads from the cancelled HS2 high speed rail project could go to Bracknell.

And he said he would “of course” ask the government’s department for transport for more if it was needed.

He said: “I have already secured an additional £377k from Central Government in year for potholes but I will of course lobby the department for transport if additional funds are needed.

“Last month, the Prime Minister announced that record roads funding of a further £8.3bn over 10 years will be freed up from the cancellation of HS2 so I also look forward to securing some of that for Bracknell.”

The appeal – signed by 23 Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors – comes after Bracknell Forest Council revealed in September that more than one in ten of its roads need resurfacing.

Councillor Guy Gillbe – in charge of roads – said the yearly funding councils get from the government for road repairs no longer meets rising costs.

And the letter said that Bracknell Forest Council had had to spend £1.2 million of its own funds on highways maintenance.

It added: “In spite of this, there remains a significant shortfall in the funding needed to keep pace with the rate of decay across our road network. With council budgets already stretched to breaking point, this funding can only come from central government.”

It comes as the council has warned that its entire budget this year could be up to three million pounds short of what it needs.

But Mr Sunderland said the council had been able to balance its books in previous years and that he would need to “better understand” the reasons for a shortfall now.

He said: “Bracknell Forest Council has been able to balance its books in recent years, with Labour councillors previously voting for this year’s budget, so I will need to better understand why a shortfall is now being projected for 23/24.”