Transport for London (TfL) has cut spending on its repairs to its roads by £30 million over the last five years.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that in 2013 TfL spend over £36 million on repairs to TfL Red Routes – a network of London’s major roads which includes the North Circular road.

This includes spending on pavements, routine repairs and spending on capital renewal on carriageways – work to maintain the upkeep of TfL’s carriageways.

But this year the budget for road repairs on TfL’s Red Routes is only just over £6.5 million.

This is a difference of more than £30 million over five years.

The main shortfall in spending comes from a fall in spending so called capital renewal and routine repairs.

TfL have blamed the shortfall in spending on the removal of a government grant and said it has paused all “non-essential” road improvements until suitable funding can be found.

Nick Fairholme, TfL’s director of project and programme delivery, said: “In order to manage a £700m per year reduction in Government subsidy, we have temporarily paused all non-essential road improvements on TfL roads.

“This will allow us to get the best results of our investment for all road users, whilst ensuring TfL’s road network remains safe.

“Roads repairs remain a priority and we’ll continue to fund the boroughs to help maintain their roads and to support more walking and cycling journeys across the capital.”

The transport body said they will ensure that the roads under its responsibility remain safe.

Bridget Fox, sustainable transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, said: “This lack of spending on road maintenance is a direct result of the Government cutting Transport for London’s grant.

“The Government is now raising £0.5 billion in vehicle excise duty from London motorists, none of which is being given back to Transport for London to spend on the capital’s roads. Even worse, what road repairs are happening are being subsidised by London’s public transport users.

“The Government must recognise the need to fund the capital’s road repairs properly and not rely on bus and tube passengers to do so.”