An initial £3 million will be allocated via the 2022-23 budget for road infrastructure repairs in Augus, according to the council.
In announcing the move, Finance Convener, Cllr Mark Salmond said it was intended as a first step in a bigger £11 million programme that will allow the roads service to plan future investment in the area’s infrastructure, including road safety and street lighting.
“We are listening to the people of Angus. The people that use our roads and pavements have made it loud and very clear that they want us to invest more in roads maintenance and tackle the scourge of potholes in particular.
“It is not a challenge that is unique to Angus, but it is a specific nettle that we are determined to grasp and reflects the public’s view, which came through very strongly via our budget consultation and a petition submitted to us recently.
“This Administration has been committed to improving road maintenance and road safety and sees a new six-year investment strategy as the best route forwards.
“We have 1,130 miles or 1,818km of roads linking our coastline to our glens in Angus – a network that links our communities and which is essential for everyday life for our businesses, our residents and our visitors.
“Nationally there has been a 28% reduction in roads expenditure. We are in the top ten of the 32 councils in terms of road condition, but at the same time are in the third of councils that spend least on roads infrastructure. We cannot afford to be complacent. More than 30% of our road network needs attention or investigation and that impacts on residents and businesses.
“Our roads team do an excellent job of maintaining our roads within the financial constraints they work within and last year the Council was able to provide them with a £1m boost for reactive repairs in advance of winter.
“This new investment will allow the team to deliver an extra third of the surface dressing programme planned for next year and enhance the roads and footways resurfacing programme. This will include a mix of rural and town routes across the county dealing with some of our poorer infrastructure.
“Looking further ahead, the bigger £11 million programme set out in my Capital Plan proposals will allow the roads services team to plan future investment in the road’s assets including road safety and street lighting.
“Officers will reassess the network as they do each year as we emerge out of winter and will ensure that the roads that most need investment are prioritised. They will also develop a programme of repairs to maintain our transport network as far as the funding allows.”
