Roads maintenance is set to be given a new year boost of £30 million, with the money going towards improving the network of unclassified roads in West Sussex.

The announcement comes after West Sussex County Council announced cuts of £141m to its overall budget over the next four years – including £46m from the adult social care budget.

The roads investment, which includes rural and residential roads, will be put before the full council meeting in |February.


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Pieter Montyn, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm that we plan to spend in the region of £30 million over the next two years as part of the Better Roads Programme.

“I did promise that we would be spending a significant sum and I can now confirm the sort of expenditure we are working towards as we finalise our budget proposals.

“This is a really sound use of capital financing because there will be benefits not just in terms of improved roads, but also this investment will help reduce our maintenance costs.”

Over the last three years West Sussex has experienced some of the worst weather conditions in living memory. Record levels of rainfall along with flooding, freezing temperatures and snow caused significant deterioration to the county’s roads.

The county’s A and B roads and minor C roads have been maintained to national standards but maintenance of unclassified roads, which make up 55% of the county network, has slipped.

In 2009/10 only 12% of unclassified roads across West Sussex were considered in need of repair. In 2012/13 that figure had increased to 22%.

Councillor Montyn added: “By putting in place a long term asset management plan that makes our roads more resilient we can prevent damage, provide greater value for the taxpayer and make managing problems caused by extreme weather easier.

“If we make the extra capital investment now in upgrading road surfaces it will reduce annual maintenance costs and prevent deterioration.”