The Council has welcomed new funding of more than £750,000 from Welsh Government, towards road maintenance across the County Borough.
The significant contribution, from the Local Government Roads Maintenance Revenue Grant 2020/21, was awarded on March 15. Funding was allocated to all Local Authorities in Wales as part of the Grant, and the exact funding of £756,621 to Rhondda Cynon Taf will complement the Council’s own important road maintenance investment within its annual Highways Capital Programme.
This year’s Programme (for 2020/21) contained a £7.6m Highways Investment Programme, including £6.3m for roads and £1.3m for footways – within an overall investment of £25.02m for the Highways and Transportation service.
Sustained investment in this area has reduced the percentage of roads in Rhondda Cynon Taf requiring maintenance, comparing favourably to other Local Authorities. Figures from last year showed 4.7% of local ‘A’ Roads requiring investment compared to 16.2% nine years ago – while a similar trend is seen in in ‘B’ Roads (15.2% to 6.2%) and ‘C’ Roads (15.3% to 3.5%).
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “I’m pleased that the Council has received important additional support from Welsh Government, contributing to the maintenance and future-proofing of local roads – which remains a priority area of investment for this Council.
“Officers will continue to pursue external funding for road maintenance and strategic transportation projects, to complement our significant Highways Capital Programme. At their meeting in March 2021, Cabinet Members will consider the latest Programme, which proposes a total £25.025m investment across the Highways and Transportation service for the next financial year, 2021/22.
“This latest Welsh Government support follows a £4.4m allocation last month – coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Storm Dennis – to help the Council’s ongoing efforts to repair infrastructure following the most significant flooding since the 1970s which saw almost 1,500 properties flooded.”
Posted on 22/03/2021