Road repairs' £45m bill

Road repairs' £45m bill

Repairs will be carried out at major and minor routes

About £45m is being spent on Devon's roads - after residents demanded action over repairs.

The money will be spent on resurfacing and repairs at nearly 1,000 sites around the county.

Some of the cash will go on estate roads and pavements, culvert repairs and better lighting and drainage.

The investment was announced following a survey across the country.

Neglected road maintenance simply means even bigger bills for repair in the future

David Morrish,
Devon County Council

More than three quarters of a sample of 4,000 people said they did not mind council taxes going up if the services were maintained or improved. Nearly half asked for repairs to roads and streets.

The investment will come in spite of government cuts in financial support for Devon, which, according to the council, has chopped £8m off highway maintenance budgets.

Councillor David Morrish said: "People have told me time and time again that well-maintained roads are a high priority.

"So I hope they will agree the county is doing the right thing by investing in highway maintenance.

"Neglected road maintenance simply means even bigger bills for repair in the future and I am now working hard to reverse that."

Maintaining services

Devon County Council recently announced a council tax rise of 17.95%.

The council was "stunned" by the government's latest settlement, which, it said, left the county with a £32.5m shortfall.

In cash terms, the increase will mean an average band D household will have to pay an extra £2.64 a week.

Council leader Christine Channon said she was not happy with the increase, but it would maintain services.

However, Exeter MP and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons Ben Bradshaw said Devon was getting a "very generous deal" from the government.