Issued: 20 January 2010
Extra £750K Winter Maintenance Bill
Angus Council is forecasting that an additional £750,000 may be needed by March to meet the cost of winter maintenance and emergency road repairs.
The members of the council's Infrastructure Services Committee were advised of the position at Tuesday's committee meeting (19 January).
Speaking following the meeting, committee convener David May said: "It has been decades since the UK experienced such a prolonged and severe spell of winter weather. Now that the thaw has set in we can see the damage the big freeze has caused to roads and pavements.
"In Angus the bill for the necessary emergency repairs is expected to be around £250,000 and with another few months of winter weather still to come we expect that another £500,000 may well be needed for the gritting programme over and above the existing 2009/10 winter maintenance budget."
The convener said the council would fund the work from the overall council budget including using underspends in other budgets.
"Winter maintenance will continue to be carried out to the agreed standard and if necessary we will dip into the council's contingency budget to run the service," said councillor May. "The extent of the structural damage to the roads and pavements which will require more extensive repairs is currently being assessed and the longer term funding issues will be considered when the council sets the 2010/11 budget next month."
The convener encouraged people to call ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778 to tell the council about any road and pavement damage.
"Obviously the roads team is inspecting the network for damage but the public can help us by reporting potholes and disrupted pavements. However people need to be aware that the continuing cold weather and the extent of the frost damage mean that we will have to prioritise the work. Minor repairs may take longer and in some areas repairs will be temporary until the ground thaws out enough to assess fully the extent of the damage and for effective repairs to be done.
"I would ask residents to bear with us and to take extra care when out and about as it will take time to repair uneven pavements and road surfaces across every part of the county."