Norfolk County Council’s cabinet is set to meet next week to discuss a possible £42 million maintenance programme including 113 small but ‘locally important’ schemes as well as improvement projects totalling £85 million.

Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “It’s an impressive range of projects on the table and it shows how officers have continued to focus on the challenge to maintain and improve our highways network despite pressures brought by the pandemic and some really challenging weather conditions over the past few months.

“I’m so pleased that 2021 marks a decade for the ever-popular Parish Partnership scheme. The match funding we provide for bids from parish and town councils will see more than £715,000 spent this year on 113 locally important schemes such as new trod paths, bus shelters and speed awareness signs.

“Our aim is to build and improve our network so that it works for both businesses and residents, whether you’re travelling on foot, by bicycle or in a car. It’s great to see that we’re continuing to invest in a range of projects and are seeking to secure government funding for specific high priority schemes. This will help keep the county moving and will support the recovery of our economy in the years ahead.”

A new connection between the A47 and A10 that will not only reduce delays but also and lower the traffic levels in the village of West Winch, is set to be backed by members next week. The £64m West Winch Housing Access Road aims to put appropriate infrastructure in place before the development of 4,000 new homes in the area. If approved next week the next step will be for a business case to be submitted to the Department for Transport with the aim of securing £50.08m Government funding for the route.

Cabinet members are also set to agree spending for the year ahead on road maintenance and improvement schemes, following the approval of the county council’s 2021/22 budget on Monday 22 February.