Additional investment agreed to improve East Sussex roads

Further investment has been agreed by Cabinet to improve the county's roads and protect them for future years.

The decision has followed a period of detailed modelling to show how extra investment could be most effective.

Extreme weather is causing faster road deterioration across the UK and cabinet members unanimously approved an additional spend of £5.6million from reserves.

The funds will be used for extra patching and drainage work and increasing the overall capital programme by £5.1 million, funded through borrowing.

There was also a recommendation to Full Council that a further £5 million be added to the capital programme to help with early improvements to improve the resilience of the  road network, taking the total extra investment to £15.7 million - a decision on this is due at July's meeting.

Presenting the report to Cabinet on Tuesday, Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Over recent winters, and in particular last winter, the weather has taken its toll on roads in East Sussex and across the country. I very much welcome this investment and believe residents will as well.”

It's anticipated that the investment will help improve the condition of more than 40 miles of roads across East Sussex and reduce areas needing repair.