COUNCIL chiefs are set to approve a £9 million investment into Warrington’s roads.

The cabinet is set to approve a further £9 million of highway investment funding, as part of Warrington’s highways asset management strategy, at its meeting on Monday.

In his report, Cllr Hans Mundry, cabinet member for highways, transportation and public realm, says this will ‘continue to build on’ the authority’s previous highways maintenance investment and ensure ongoing commitment to highway improvement and critical maintenance of the road and footway network.

The cabinet is recommended to approve the investment of £9 million to be invested over an initial three-year period in respect of the unclassified road and footway network strategy.

Members are also asked to approve maximum prudential borrowing for the total programme of works of £9 million and any 2022-23 borrowing costs to be met from the medium-term financial plan reserve.

In his report, Cllr Mundry said: “Effective and efficient asset management, maintenance of the roads, footways and the supporting infrastructure is a high priority.

“Over a number of years, the condition of highway infrastructure across the country has severely declined as a result of severe weather and longer-term lack of sufficient investment.

“With funding from central Government in decline any spend and award of grants such as local transport plan funding or additional successful pothole funding bids from the Department for Transport has to be robustly managed with the need to demonstrate funding is being spent effectively and efficiently.

“Warrington’s highway asset management strategy (HAMS) contains information outlining highway assets and the strategy for managing these assets based on the resources available.

“The HAMS systematically brings all the practices together to minimise whole life costs of managing and maintaining the highway.

“The HAMS is the foundation for any investment with a supporting financial business case, highway condition, options and recommendations.”