Cash boost for roads on Derbyshire agenda

Up to £70m will be spent upgrading Derbyshire’s transport network, despite Derbyshire County Council still awaiting final confirmation on a central government funding package.

The authority looks set to agree around £48m worth of schemes at a cabinet meeting this week, which it says will be used to improve roads, pavements, junctions, as well as fixing five landslips.

The move comes ahead of a final settlement figure, due in April next year, for government funding for its programme – however DCC says the approval of the initial tranche of work will allow them to crack on with designing schemes and programming work.

Around £9.3m will be spend on general highways maintenance, with a further £7.3m allocated to resurfacing works and £4.6m spent on surface dressings. Bridge works will be allocated just over £2.6m and improvements to pavements will total £1.3m.

A total of £7m will be spent fixing landslips across the county.

The council also plans to increase the frequency of road survey inspections made on rural and residential roads, currently in in five years, to one in every two years, as well as a new initiative known as “fence to fence” working designed to maximise road closures by completing extra drainage work.

“The changes to the way highways work, by introducing fence to fence working and more permanent repairs, will mean that we can reduce potholes and improve the quality and safety of our roads,” said cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, Cllr Charlotte Hill.

“Although we don’t know the exact sum of money, we will be awarded we believe that it will be similar to what we have been awarded this year, the lack of communication on funding is frustrating as it does not allow for long term forward planning to take place, if uncertainties of funding remain. However, we are getting ourselves organised so that we can deliver a programme of work that will truly make a difference.

“Almost 80% of the roads that we will improve next year are residential roads. This is a change from previous programmes, and I am sure this will be welcomed by our residents.

“A fully costed programme for roads, pavements, drainage, street lighting, safety schemes and public transport schemes for just over £41 million is set to be agreed. A further £7 million is to be spent fixing 5 landslips. Officers will now work on further programmes to spend the anticipated £22 million.”