A MAJOR boost has been given to the Runham Vauxhall area of Great Yarmouth after �108,000 of lottery funding was earmarked for road and footpath improvements.

A MAJOR boost has been given to the Runham Vauxhall area of Great Yarmouth after �108,000 of lottery funding was earmarked for road and footpath improvements.

The financial backing follows progress made with Norfolk County Council's plans to renovate the nearby rundown Vauxhall Bridge for use by buses and taxis as well as pedestrians. The council's planning and transportation team is set to apply to the Heritage Lottery fund for money for the improvements.

The National Lottery's Fair Share Trust, which is behind the latest funding, has already given �300,000 towards the bridge project.

The planned work includes footway and drainage improvements in Sidegate Road to prevent water getting into homes which are prone to flooding and a change to the footway alignment at

the junction with School Road.

In North River Road,

Bridge Road and School

Road 20mph speed limit

signs will be installed, which can be activated by

passing traffic, following residents' concerns over speeding cars.

Footpaths in the area are also set to be resurfaced with the removal of slabs and replacement with resin coated chippings, while the road will be raised to

help prevent flooding.

The borough council has also agreed street lighting in North River Road can be replaced

as much of it is in poor condition.

Borough councillor Mike Taylor, who represents Central and Northgate ward, welcomed both the road improvement plans and the progress made with the bridge project.

He said: “It is a whole package to lift the area and make it a lot better.”

For years, councillors have been fighting for improve-ments to the dilapidated bridge, which has been described as an “eyesore” at an important gateway to the town close to the railway station.

The bridge featured on the Grotbritain website for dirty places in the UK.