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Funding injection announced for Essex roads

Essex County Council has announced it will spend over £300m on improving the condition of its road network over the next three years. In 2016/17 £137m will be invested in the county's road network, a 30% increase on the council's previous road maintenance budget.

Essex cabinet member for infrastructure, councillor Rodney Bass said: “We know how important this is to people and to businesses and we intend to shift our attention to tackling defects on urban and rural roads and estates, investing in better lighting and better footpaths.

 We will also be looking at investing in particular roads and bridges and also in LED lighting. Overall, the highways maintenance budget is increasing by over 30% which is proof of our ambition to keep the quality of Essex’s road network up there with the best in the country.”



Coucillor Eddie Johnson, cabinet member for highways delivery added: “We have listened. We have listened when local people have told us that cracks and holes in the roads and pavements matter. We have listened when business has told us that getting from A to B easily and quickly helps them to prosper. We have listened to the partners who have said that alongside the new homes and jobs we desperately need good infrastructure.”



The council's cabinet member for finance said, John Spence said: “The tough financial management we have exercised has enabled us to deliver a budget which we know will help to drive growth and the quality of life in our County, through capital investment in highways and infrastructure.”