Road improvement scheme hailed a huge success by Jane Hutt
21 May 2014 04:28 PM
A £170m Welsh
Government initiative to improve the condition of highways across Wales has
significantly reduced the number of roads in need of urgent repair, Finance
Minister Jane Hutt said yesterday.
The Local Government Borrowing
Initiative (LGBI) was launched in 2012–13 to fund new and necessary
investment in highways. 2014-15 is the third and final year of investment
under the scheme, and by the end of the financial year around £170m will
have been invested across Wales.
Research into the LGBI, carried
out by the WLGA, has found that the scheme has so far
delivered:
- Resurfacing of 850km of
carriageway
- Resurfacing of an additional
180km of footways
- Refurbishment and/or
strengthening of 74 bridges/highway structures
- Replacement of 5,000
aged/deteriorated street lighting columns
- Upgrade of 1,800 lighting units
to more energy efficient modern units
During a visit to Rhondda Cynon
Taf the Minister saw how the Local Authority has invested its allocation in
road improvements.
Jane Hutt said:
"When we introduced the
LGBI, we wanted to help Councils like Rhondda Cynon Taf address revenue
pressures, and see them undertake new and necessary investment in our highways.
I am delighted to see that that is exactly what is
happening.
"Thanks to close
collaboration between the Welsh Government and local authorities we have seen a
significant increase in the ability of local authorities to fund improvements
in transport infrastructure. The LGBI has not only helped to improve the
condition of our roads, reduce travel times and increase safety for motorists
and cyclists; it has also supported local economies across Wales by helping to
sustain and create jobs for local people."
Following the success of the
LGBI for highway improvements the Minister has also agreed to extend the scheme
to the 21st Century Schools programme. This will inject around
£170m of investment into the first phase of the 21st Century Schools
programme between 2014-15 and 2016-17, enabling it to be delivered in 2018-19,
two years sooner than originally planned.
Jane Hutt
added:
"This week we will be
making the first instalment of payments under the LGBI for 21st Century
Schools. I’m sure this will have the same success as the highways
scheme and deliver improvements to schools and colleges across
Wales."
Cllr Andrew Morgan from RCT
Council said:
"We committed to the
Highways Investment Programme in 2012 and have delivered, consistently and
effectively, on it every year since, because we know what a priority it is to
our communities, residents and businesses.
"A safe, well-maintained
and effective roads network is crucial not only for the wellbeing of those who
live and work here, but also for securing future investment and regeneration
opportunities.
"We have also been able to
safeguard and create local employment opportunities while delivering this
far-reaching investment.
"We were pleased to be able
to showcase this success today and we have pledged to continue campaigning and
working innovatively to ensure investment of this kind in Rhondda Cynon Taf
continues."