£2.8m Boost For Highways And Neighbourhood Works

A report to Councillors of the Environment and Highways Cabinet Board this week (Thursday 16th February) outlines the 2017/18 work programme which includes improvements to bridges, roads and footpaths across Neath Port Talbot. Neath Port Talbot Council is investing £2.8m on maintenance and upgrading works as part of the Highways and Neighbourhood Works Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carriageway and footway resurfacing works and road safety measures are among the planned schemes, as are the improvement and strengthening of some bridges. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For several years now Councillors and Officers have been working together to identify local concerns relating to neighbourhood and highways issues and balancing these with inspection reports and technical survey results. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, the Council has been spending a greater proportion of the highway maintenance budget on lower cost treatments to preserve and extend the useful life of the road surface. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A recent Welsh Government report on road conditions in Wales found that Neath Port Talbot had one of the lowest proportions of roads in poor condition in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: “Like other Councils across Wales, we continue to face considerable financial challenges. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, we recognise the importance of maintaining the County Borough’s highways assets which is why we are investing in improvement and upgrade works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A safe, well-maintained and effective roads network is crucial not only for the wellbeing of those who live and work in Neath Port Talbot, but also for securing future investment and regeneration opportunities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​