A passionate plea for £30m has been made to the government to prevent roads in Central Bedfordshire from crumbling further and “to catch up on years of highways underinvestment”.
Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) leader and Independent Potton Cllr Adam Zerny sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander.
The local authority is calling for significant investment in the local road network, according to a council statement.
The correspondence asks for a one-off investment of about £30m to help halt the continued deterioration of local roads and to address the impact of years of national underinvestment in highway infrastructure, said CBC.
“Roads remain one of the issues residents contact the council about most frequently.
They’re essential for helping people get to work, school, healthcare appointments and local services, while also supporting economic growth and connecting communities across the area.”
Roads which could benefit include Aspley Lane and Salford Road north of the railway line at Aspley Guise, as well as miles of footpaths, according to CBC’s executive member for highways and Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker.
Stanbridge Road by Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club, and East Street and the roads around it are other contenders, said Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South councillor Chris Leaman.
“There’s also Queen Street, Cumberland Street and Manor Park in Houghton Regis, and the Leighton Buzzard bypass from Grovebury Road to the Wing roundabout where there are major subsidence issues on the eastbound side.”
London Road in Biggleswade “is one perfect example where CBC are planning to do extensive patching after years of lobbying from ward members”, added the Central Bedfordshire Community Network Biggleswade West Cllr, Hayley Whitaker.
“Another is Hitchin Street where Anglian Water is overseeing a six-month multi-million-pound project to replace the water main and the road is in a shocking state.”
Local investment
In his letter to the Transport Secretary, councillor Zerny wrote: “Despite fairer funding pressures, CBC has shown its commitment to maintaining the highway network by investing an extra £4m of council funding during the current financial year to improve and protect roads.
“Our roads, bridges, drainage, street lighting and other highways assets in Central Bedfordshire are fundamental to the continued growth and prosperity of our region.
“Based on our asset management assessments and current market costs, we estimate at least £30m more is required simply to bring our highways network to the standards our residents deserve. Further talks would need to take place about funding then to ensure the highways stay that way.
“The government has identified this region as critical for future growth, and the resilience of our highway network will play a pivotal role in this. Continued investment of public money from the government is essential.”
Councillor Zerny explained in the CBC statement: “The condition of our roads is a major concern for residents and businesses.
“Reliable, well-maintained roads are vital for everyday life and are critical to supporting our local economy. The council has increased its investment in highways, alongside the government.
“But the reality is the current funding levels only allow us to focus on keeping the roads safe and operational. This finance is insufficient to address the historic maintenance backlog that has built up over many years.
“That’s why we’ve written to government calling for more investment. An estimated £30m is needed to halt further deterioration of our highway network and protect this vital infrastructure for the future.”
CBC currently invests around £16m each year in highways maintenance, with additional government funding bringing the total budget to around £30m.
“This funding supports not only road repairs, but also the maintenance of footpaths, bridges, drainage systems, street signage, traffic signals and cycle infrastructure,” the local authority confirmed.
By Euan Duncan
Local Democracy Reporter
