England’s local roads to get boost from government cash pot
Transport is a signal and siren theme in the world of the rural public sector – perhaps some good news here…..???
English councils will be given access to a multibillion-pound fund for local road improvements under plans unveiled by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling.
It was initially envisaged that the cash, held in the national roads fund, would be spent on the motorways and major A-roads managed by Highways England. But Grayling announced a change of tack, saying that some of it should be diverted to be spent on roads run by local authorities.
He placed a particular focus on a “bypass fund”, while some of the money will also be used to help councils enhance or replace the most important A-roads under their management, the Department for Transport said.
Under the strategy, which could be implemented in 2020, road improvement programmes are to be judged on how they contribute to creating a more geographically balanced economy, increase productivity or growth and tackle congestion.