Local Committee tackles reduced highways maintenance budget 2003/04

Today, Cumbria County Council's Local Committee for Allerdale agreed to set an interim budget and hold a special meeting at the end of April to consider the impact of the cuts to their highways budget. 

The Committee's highways revenue budget has reduced by about 25% from last year. As well as this basic reduction there has been increases in the costs of central support, besides the increased cost of basic materials. In real terms, the impact of the budget settlement could mean over one third less work will be done 'on the ground'. 

County Councillor Barbara Cannon, Chair of the Local Committee says 

"The revenue budget for highways maintenance for 2003/04 has been considerably reduced when compared with 2002/03 which will have a serious impact on the fabric of our highways. We need to look again at some of the suggested spending priorities to make sure that the money which is left is spent wisely on the most essential schemes and maintenance programmes. A special local committee meeting has been arranged for the end of the month so we can discuss the issue further."