Over £7 million is to be invested in Calderdale’s highways over the next 12 months, according to a report which will be considered by Calderdale Council’s Cabinet.
Calderdale Council is responsible for more than 1000km of adopted highway, 283 highways bridges, 60 culverts and 730km of walls. These assets are regularly inspected and a programme of work agreed within the available budget.
The Highways Capital and Revenue Programmes report, which will be considered by Cabinet, sets out the planned highways projects for 2019/20. The report outlines the different sources of funding which the Council has received and how the money will be allocated to improve the highways network.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, Cllr Jane Scullion, said:
“Maintaining and improving our extensive highways network requires a large amount of resource. The Capital funding available from the DfT’s basic grant together with additional successful bid grants should be directed where it is needed most, therefore it is important that we agree a plan of works.
“The programme presented to Cabinet is based on thorough assessments and includes both surface and infrastructure improvements, as well as programmes to encourage active travel and to introduce safety measures.”
As the Council is recognised as a top tier authority, more funding is unlocked from the government for maintaining our road network. This means that in addition to the £3.1m basic grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), Calderdale will also receive the maximum level of additional funding of £661k, awarded to Councils who demonstrate that efficiency measures are being pursued.
Over £2.4m of this will be spent on carriageway maintenance, with all A, B and C roads being surveyed annually and a programme of works agreed. Two roads already identified for surface works are Bacup Road in Todmorden and South Parade in Stainland.
Around £1.1m will be spent on inspecting, strengthening and maintaining bridges, culverts and walls and £500k will be earmarked for the 2019/20 phase of the borough- wide streetlights upgrade programme.
The Council has also had confirmation that it will receive over £200k following a successful bid for the DfT’s pothole fund. Funding for a package of road safety measures on the A6033 Keighley and Rochdale Roads has also been approved totalling around £2.3m.
Funding for schemes and initiatives to improve road safety and support wider health benefits have also been allocated almost £800k from the DfT. This will include schemes to reduce road casualties and encourage active travel such as cycling or walking.
The Council has also been awarded funding in excess of £2.8m from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund to progress schemes in relation to Elland train station, the A646 and A58 road networks and improvements in north-east Calderdale.
Improved and well maintained highways are an essential element of the Council’s progress towards the delivery of the Vision2024 for Calderdale. In the year 2024 Calderdale will celebrate its 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? Join the conversation by following #VisionCdale2024 on social media and visit www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
The item will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 29 July at Halifax Town Hall, starting at 6pm.
ENDS