Local Conservatives have welcomed nearly fourteen million pounds of government funding to improve the condition of roads across Lincolnshire.
The Department for Transport has today revealed Lincolnshire’s share of the £420 million of roads funding announced in the Budget. Lincolnshire County Council will receive £13,747,000 to repair potholes, keep local bridges and structures open and safe, and help with other highways works that may be needed. Within the East Midlands, Lincolnshire was given the biggest funding boost, netting almost a third of the money granted to the region.
The Budget also announced the biggest ever single cash injection to improve England’s roads, meaning that people can get to and from home and work quicker, boosting the local economy and improving air quality.
Commenting, Sir Edward Leigh MP said:
“I am delighted that Lincolnshire County Council will be receiving this funding boost to improve roads, helping hardworking people in the Gainsborough constituency.
“This additional new funding represents a significant boost in road maintenance and is on top of £950 million we are already providing to councils across the country this year for local highways maintenance.”
Cllr Clio Perraton-Williams (Scotter Rural Division), Support Councillor to the Highways, Transport and IT portfolio holder, said:
“Last year’s nightmare winter and the long-hot summer have both taken their toll on the roads, and this £13.7m will help us undo some of the damage.
“With 5,500 miles of road to maintain, we’ll be sure to make every penny count, and will look to keep the county’s roads in the best possible condition with the cash that’s available.
“However, while this extra funding is very welcome, it’s nowhere near the hundreds of millions of pounds we’d need to bring our roads up to the standard we’d like. That’s why we’ll continue to push the Government for fairer funding for Lincolnshire.
“If councils here received the average funding for council areas in England, the region would benefit from £116 million of extra funding for services every year - some of which could be used towards highways repairs. That would make a massive difference.”
