MORE money is needed from the government to help fix Bolton’s crumbling roads, say local councillors.

They say that despite spending £11 million over the past eight years, it is not enough to cover the ageing roads in the town.

Cllr David Chadwick, Labour’s cabinet member for highways and transport, was introducing a motion to ask the government for more cash for the roads.

He said: “It’s not rocket science – its a pothole and it should be filled.”

A debate among councillors led to the Conservative group being labelled “hypocrites” by a Labour councillor who claimed they were sending mixed messages.

Cllr Nick Peel said the road and pavement spending in 2010 was £6.8 million but now it had fallen to £3.4 million for 2018. He said the council relies “heavily” on government funding for “such an expensive area”.

The UKIP group agreed to support the motion.

Conservative Cllr Stuart Haslam said: “This is one of those motions where this Labour council wish to pass the blame for their own inadequacies.” He accused the council of failing to provide sufficient resources and pointed out the compensation bill in Bolton is the second highest in Greater Manchester.

Cllr Haslam raised the Tory plan to invest £10 million of the council’s reserves into the highways.

He said the Labour group had rejected using the money in the past.

He said: “It is the Labour group who have demonstrably neglected our roads and pavements. However, I will be supporting this.”

Cllr Haslam was widely jeered at by the Labour group when announcing his support.

Cllr Nick Peel, Labour closed the debate.

He said: “How odd, watching Conservative councillor after Conservative councillor get up and rip into the motion and then conclude ‘we support it’.”

Cllr Peel added: “Let’s call out the Bolton Tories for the hypocrites that they are.”

The motion was passed unanimously by the councillors.