DEVON County Council’s budget for roads has fallen £55.5 million short this year, it has been revealed.

Councillor Gordon Hook spelt out in stark terms a bleak picture for Devon at a Newton Abbot Town Council meeting.

He told members every year central Government requires an estimation of the cost it would take to repair and improve Devon’s roads.

Last year it was calculated at a staggering £1.6 billion, which means annually the county needs £102 million just to keep the roads as they are, but the budget for this year is £46.5 million.

Cllr Hook simply said: ‘We are stuffed.’

The Children’s and Adult services budget is currently running more than £7.3 million over budget which will need to be found from other departments and it could quite possibly be highways.

Cllr Hook told councillors things are only going to get worse as in 2018/19 the Tory administration is already committed to making a further cut of £28 million.

He said: ‘These cuts will sadly but inevitably cause increased human suffering.

‘All councillors, at whatever level, must ensure that every penny they agree to spend is used to the maximum benefit of residents.

‘We have seen huge reductions in care provision, youth work, highway maintenance, the list is almost endless.

‘Devon’s MPs must fight within Government for better funding for the county.

‘I can only hope that following May’s elections we have a Lib-Dem administration, with a heart as well as a head, to grapple with these mammoth problems.’