More cash to tackle fly-tipping and make roads safer in Wiltshire
It follows calls to improve the highways
Last updated 14th Jul 2022
Wiltshire Council is to spend an extra £2m to improve the county's road network.
The money will be spent over the next three years to tackle fly-tipping in the county, re-paint road markings and empty gullies.
The local authority says the investment, agreed at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (12th July) will improve the appearance of the highways network and make roads safer, reduce the risk of flooding and tackle the scourge of fly-tipping.
The plans will see an extra £200,000 each year invested into painting give way lines, roundabout markings and stop lines in urban areas and on inter-urban roads. A further £333,000 each year will also be spent on emptying gullies around the county, with a focus on areas at risk of flooding to protect the road network and properties.
An extra £150,000 each year will be spent on tackling fly-tipping throughout the county.
The money spent on new covert cameras and three members of staff to catch offenders.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport and Waste, said:
“People have told us that they want to see more money spent on highways improvements, and that’s why I’m delighted that Cabinet has agreed to this £2m investment.
“White lines, gullies and fly-tipping are the sorts of things that people see every day, and we know that they matter to our communities. This significant investment will help improve these issues throughout the county.
“Better line markings will make our roads safer, clear gullies will reduce flooding, and the fly-tipping funding will enable us to target more people who commit this environmental crime.
“We committed to have vibrant, safe and well-connected communities in our Business Plan, and these visual and safety improvements to our road network will help to make Wiltshire a better place to live.”
The council currently spends £270,000 on road and line marking each year, and £1.27m each year emptying gullies. This new funding, along with the £150,000 extra on fly-tipping each year, will be in addition to the current spend on these issues, and will focus on problem areas to improve safety, reduce the risk of flooding and help prevent fly-tipping.