Millions approved for potholes and transport schemes in Middlesbrough
A council executive member has approved more than £4m for fixing potholes and transport schemes.
Middlesbrough Councillor Peter Gavigan, who is the council’s Executive member for the environment and sustainability, approved an allocation of £4.154 City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) grant funding, with the intent of both developing and delivering infrastructure improvements, at a meeting on June 4.
Projects receiving the funding include traffic calming measures on Valley Road as well as phase one of the Ormesby Beck cycleway. Additionally, the phase two works of the Stainton Way pedestrian and cycle facilities will receive £200,000 of CRSTS funding. Bus stop improvements are also due at Hollyhurst Avenue/Holmwood Avenue, with funding listed at £150,000.
Cllr Gavigan explained that the money was allocated from central government and the council receives CRSTS funding from the Department of Transport via Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).
He said: “The maintenance schemes are based on asset condition rating systems and allocation of resources work to address a “worst first” is used. This is rationalised based on public safety and asset longevity priorities (such as ensuring that structures are safe). This ensures that the council is sequentially addressing the areas of the network in most need of resolving.”
Cllr Gavigan requested that an interim report be produced in October/November to be presented to the council’s Executive, “just to update us on where we are standing on progress towards full achievement”.
Geoff Field, the council’s Director of Environment and Community Services, explained that as part of the funding, there was an additional £750,000 for road maintenance, “what you would describe as the pothole fund, so that will get rid of some of the backlog of issues that we’ve got.” Council documents explain this is a one off grant and came as part of the Government’s December Spending Review.
He added that more money had been moved into “flood alleviation schemes”, which will mean more drain clearance, gully sweeps, “which I know the public are really keen on”. He confirmed that while it wouldn’t completely wipe out the backlog, there would be progress “in the right trajectory”. Mr Field explained that the plans needed to be looked at in conjunction with the capital programme to see the money allocated to bridges and structures.
Infrastructure Programme Manager Liyaqat Ud-Din confirmed that a traffic calming scheme on Valley Road is part of the plans. He explained that residents had been in contact with the council and “we’ve managed to secure some funding through Thirteen, so they are part funding that scheme with us, just input some traffic calming measures on Valley Road so that we can address any issues”.