Cheshire East Council are planning to recruit a new quality assurance officer to inspect work carried out on the borough's roads - as part of a plan to ensure value for money.

The council say this plan will help to drive up the quality of highways repairs and ensure value for money in the work done.

A new budget was recently approved, which includes a £19m capital investment in planned highways maintenance over the next three years.

This investment by Cheshire East Council is set against the backdrop of a £3m cut in government funding for highways maintenance in 2020/21, and a freeze in government funding for the next three years.

Crewe business hits out at fuel prices: "We used to spend £20 to £30 per week in fuel on drivers and it is now more like £50 to £60 per week."

For many years, funding for highways maintenance has been below the level necessary to prevent deterioration of the highways network.

The council is now seeking to ensure that these limited funds are spent in the most cost-effective way possible.

Councillor Craig Browne, chair of the council's highways and transport committee, said: "The vast majority of our residents understand that budgets are tight. However, they are also frustrated when they see the deterioration in the condition of the highway.

"I am pleased that this investment in quality assurance will go some way towards addressing that.

"The council has the in-house skills to work with our contractor to ensure we improve performance, deliver high-quality work and demonstrate we are a council that listens to residents' concerns and acts on them."

Last week, Mum-of-four from Crewe, Tracie Boulton told Nub News: "I think most roads in Crewe need new markings and the pot holes being filled in."

Councillor Laura Crane, vice-chair of the council's highways and transport committee, said: "Whilst the level of funding provided by central government is simply inadequate to meet the maintenance needs of Cheshire East's roads and prevent them deteriorating further, we are increasing that level of investment by £19m over the next three years.

"This additional investment is having to be funded by borrowing, which although necessary in the short term, isn't a sustainable position in the long term.

"The only real positive from this settlement is that we at least have funding certainty for the next three years so can better plan ahead, looking at how we can use the financial surety to generate even greater value for money.

"But the frozen level of government funding does not take into account inflation, which is running year on year at a 30-year high – so we are looking in real-terms at a cut in government funding each year."

The council told Nub News that it aims to increase spending on highways inspections, responding to emergencies, hedge/tree maintenance and managing flood risk, including gully emptying.

Councillor Browne added: "We are a large semi-rural authority with a complex and extensive highways network.

"Assessment by our strategic highways team shows that we need to invest close to £30m each year to keep the roads in their current state and this level of funding has not been achieved for many years.

"This means that we are now facing a backlog of repair works totalling well over £100m, which remains unfunded."

Cheshire East is to initially recruit one quality assurance officer, but would consider another if it is a success.

Head of highways at the council will also have a newly-expanded quality assurance role.

In case you missed it: HS2 protest - activists refuse to leave woodlands following eviction deadline

Read our previous article Crewe residents bemoan the state of the roads here.

[I] Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.