The allocation of funds for the region’s infrastructure , including major investment in local road improvements are to be discussed at the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee next Tuesday. Over £13 million has been requested for 2014/15 from the Council’s Capital budget to cover a range of projects from road resurfacing to core paths through to providing vehicles for the new kerbside waste collection service due to be introduced this year. This is in addition to approximately £6m spent per year from the council’s revenue budget on road repairs.

The request for additional capital is over £3.5 million more than the budget agreed in October 2012, which emphasises the importance of improving the region’s roads according to the Councillor Colin Smyth Chair of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee.

Councillor Smyth said, “The new administration’s overall capital budget to be agreed on 18 March will set out our priorities in detail for the next three years, but also an overall strategy for the next decade which will see literally hundreds of millions of pounds invested in a whole range of projects from new schools to flood prevention schemes. A key part of that budget will be investment in our infrastructure, in particular road improvements. This funding request will need to be considered alongside the many others and the overall budget will be limited due to Government cuts. However, even at a time when the council is having to make savings due to these cuts, we are committed to maintaining and improving local roads as well as our coastal infrastructure which was so badly damaged by the recent adverse weather. Turning around the condition of the region’s roads in the face of growing cuts will be challenging, but it is something we are determined to do because it is clear this is a major priority for people in Dumfries and Galloway”.