A Budget windfall of £1.1 million will be used to fix potholes created by winter weather across Bradford, it was revealed yesterday.

Chancellor George Osborne announced he was doubling the cash to tackle the problem, which means a one-off payment of £1,118,319 for the district.

But critics accused the Government of “giving with one hand and taking with the other”, pointing to cuts announced in December for small-scale projects like road safety schemes, bus priority routes, walking and cycling schemes and transport information schemes.

Labour’s Shadow Trans-port Minister John Woodcock said: “The Conservative-led Govern-ment has already announced a cut of £432 million to the road maintenance budget over the next three years – the money announced in the Budget doesn’t come close to plugging that gap.

“Motorists are still smarting from the 3p VAT hike on fuel imposed by the Tories – they will not be taken for fools on potholes.”

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, who announced the allocations, admitted the cash was made possible as a result of savings the department.

He had already announced £100 million as an exceptional payment to help tackle a higher than usual number of potholes caused by severe weather. That was doubled in Wednesday’s Budget.

John Blackburn, the Council’s assistant director of highways, said: “We welcome the announcement from the Government which will help us with our ongoing repairs of potholes.”

John Blackburn, the Council’s assistant director of highways, said: “We welcome the announcement from the Government which will help us with our ongoing repairs of potholes.”