Roads budget increases to £6m for 2020/21

East Ayrshire Council has increased the roads budget for 2020/21 from £3.940m to £6m, and has agreed an ambitious improvement programme that will provide real improvements for roads, footways, street lighting and the environment.

The roads infrastructure is one of the Council’s most valuable assets and it is vital to the area’s economic wellbeing, contributing significantly to the local economy and regeneration. The Road Condition Index (RCI) reflects the condition of roads within East Ayrshire, and thanks to an additional investment of over £6m for surfacing works and pothole repairs in 2018/19, there has been an improvement in our RCI rating.

Evidence from data gathered clearly shows that significant investment is required to maintain the road network at its current level and that without investment the road condition would deteriorate and require more expensive resurfacing works to be carried out. The Council has therefore taken the decision to invest over £11.6m this year in the road network including structural maintenance, street lighting improvements including LED light replacement, bridge and culvert strengthening, transportation, the New Cumnock flood scheme and the multi-storey car park in Kilmarnock town centre. 

Councillor Elena Whitham, Depute Leader of the Council said: “This investment in our road network reflects the importance of improved infrastructure on the economic development and regeneration of East Ayrshire. The Ayrshire Roads Alliance, in consultation with Elected Members, Community Councils and Community Action Plan Steering Groups, has developed an ambitious programme of improvements that will ensure the safety of our roads and bridges and will see 90km of road being surfaced in the next year.”

Councillor Jim Roberts, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure said: “By re-profiling current available budgets, we have been able to sustain the significant increased and necessary investment in our infrastructure.  

“This increased funding will ensure that we have a strong focus on addressing the quality of the infrastructure asset and that we are responding to the needs of our communities.”

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