NORTH Yorkshire County Council is bidding for almost £32m of Government funding for schemes to improve vital road links in the county.
The bids are being made through the Government’s Challenge Fund. The authority, supported by local MPs, has been lobbying the Government about the maintenance crisis facing the county’s roads for the past 18 months. Recent roads expenditure announced by the county council includes a seven-year £50m maintenance programme, jointly funded by the Government and the council.
In addition, for 2015/16 the county council will have a budget of about £38m for roads maintenance. This comprises a Government allocation of almost £30m – £9m higher than the previous year – supplemented by council reserves.
The Challenge Fund was launched by the Government last autumn. It allows highway authorities to bid for funding for major maintenance projects that are difficult to fund through the normal allocations they receive. A decision on the bids is expected in Spring.
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