£20m for Staffs highways

Staffordshire’s highways chief has today announced plans for an extra £20 million to be invested into improving the county’s highways network.

Cabinet member for Highways and Transport Mike Maryon said the major cash injection into preventative work on roads and footpaths will lead to long term savings for taxpayers.

The money would be invested over two years but residents will reap the benefits for decades.

The council’s ruling Cabinet will consider the proposals for the £20 million investment on February 1 as part of its recommendations for the budget for the year from April 2012.

The cash boost will come on top of the additional £30 million that the county council’s Conservative administration has already ploughed into keeping roads repaired, safe and accessible since it came into power in June 2009.

The new cash shows a significant commitment by Staffordshire at a time when many other councils are cutting services and reducing investment overall.

Money for the investment has been released through the county council’s transformation programme, which includes savings made by closing down a number of council offices across Staffordshire and the move to a more cost – effective HQ at Staffordshire Place. 
Staffordshire sees highways as an important quality of life issue but also one which is at the centre of its commitment to bring jobs and prosperity to the county. Money can also be saved by maintaining roads now to prevent trouble later. 

It comes after residents told the council it should prioritise road maintenance and deal with potholes.