More cash is needed (From Barry And District News)

More cash is needed

THE VALE Council has admitted under-investment in roads after a survey revealed 61 percent of drivers thought Wales' highways were in a bad condition.

The survey, conducted for Autonational Rescue by RSGB Omnibus, asked motorists how much they agreed or disagreed with the positive statement "My local authority is very good at keeping my local roads in good condition."

Nationally, 49 percent of people strongly disagreed with the statement, while a further 18 percent slightly disagreed. Just six percent agreed with the statement.

Across the UK, local councils in the Scottish Borders (where 80 percent strongly disagreed), North East (65 percent) and Wales and the South West (61 percent) came under greater criticism.

A Vale Council spokesman said they had recognised a need for further investment: "With much of its limited resources earmarked for other priority service areas in recent years, the council has recognised an under-investment in its highways maintenance programme and is urgently addressing the situation.

"In the current year, of an extra £1 million earmarked for Visible Services, £800,000 is for highways maintenance work, which also includes, among other things, street lighting, flood alleviation and traffic signals replacements.

"This is coupled with an additional revenue spending of £500,000."

He said further capital and revenue funding was being made available in the next financial year to build on this improvement.

He added: "The Welsh Assembly has also recognised a need for extra funds and has allocated additional grand funds of £850,000 to progress a number of schemes during the current year and in 2002/2003."