Funding boost of around £30m for West Sussex’s unclassified roads

Around £30million will be spent over the next two years repairing West Sussex’s unclassified roads.
Potholes in West Sussex (photo by Derek Martin).Potholes in West Sussex (photo by Derek Martin).
Potholes in West Sussex (photo by Derek Martin).

The capital investment by West Sussex County Council will be included in its budget, which will be discussed in February.

This follows an investigation into long-term plans for managing the highways network, which was undertaken earlier this year in response to residents concerns about the state of the roads.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pieter Montyn (Con, The Witterings), cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm that we plan to spend in the region of £30 million over the next two years as part of the Better Roads Programme. I did promise that we would be spending a significant sum, and I can now confirm the sort of expenditure we are working towards as we finalise our budget proposals.

“This is a really sound use of capital financing because there will be benefits not just in terms of improved roads, but also this investment will help reduce our maintenance costs.”

Unclassified roads make up 55 per cent of the entire road network in the county, and include both residential and rural roads.

According to the county council, while its A, B, and C roads continue to be maintained above national standards, the state of unclassified roads has deteriorated. In 2009/10 only 12 per cent of unclassified roads in West Sussex were considered in need of repair, but that figure jumped to 22 per cent in 2012/13.

Mr Montyn added: “If we make the extra capital investment now in upgrading road surfaces, it will reduce annual maintenance costs, and prevent deterioration.”