Council digs deep to fix potholes

A �2m injection to fix Norfolk's pot-hole ravaged roads has been agreed - as it also emerged that the county will get an extra �2.8m from the government to repair them.

A �2m injection to fix Norfolk's pot-hole ravaged roads has been agreed - as it also emerged that the county will get an extra �2.8m from the government to repair them.

The bill to fix the county's pot-holes, after the worst winter for 30 years, stands at an estimated �4m and Norfolk County Council yesterday agreed to raid their reserves to pay for them to be fixed.

The county council's cabinet agreed to approve an immediate allocation of �1.174m, drawn mainly from council reserves, with the intention of boosting this figure to �2m in the summer when cabinet receives a further report on the council's financial position.

It also emerged that a further �2.8m should be heading for Norfolk as part of a �100m pot to be shared across the country's local authorities, as announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in last month's budget.

Mike Jackson, director of planning and transportation, told councillors: “Going forward, damage can only be addressed by more substantive maintenance works.

“It is imperative that we get roads into a better condition ready for the onslaught of next winter and we have recently received notification of our share of the government money.

“The allocation for Norfolk is �2.8m but it is not clear when that will be released or if that is subject to any post-election budget.”