£104m for Norfolk's highways and transport on Cabinet agenda

Better public transport for Norfolk, 153 locally important Parish Partnership Scheme improvements totalling £1.49m, and a programme of £61m capital investment and £42.6m highway maintenance for 2022-23 are all set for discussion by Norfolk County Council's Cabinet next week, Monday 7 March.

Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: "It's great to see such as a wide range of schemes on the agenda which will help provide a strong infrastructure for our growing economy, better connect Norfolk's communities with work, education and leisure, and help support our net zero carbon pledge.

"We're looking forward to getting clarity on the funding we will receive for our ambitious Bus Back Better plans as that will allow us to shape up the proposals and get the improvements underway.

"And as well as some of the large improvements we have set our sights on, such as the Long Stratton bypass, and traffic free Greenways project, we've not forgotten how much of a difference smaller sums can make to people getting around the county on a daily basis, that's why it's so welcome to see money for improvements such as trod paths and new bus shelters on the cards, as well as the millions we're continuing to spend to maintain our roads, paths and cycleways, and to help fix and prevent potholes."

Councillors are poised to agree funding for the popular Parish Partnership programme which is in its ninth year. This year 153 schemes right across Norfolk, including bus shelters, trods and speed awareness signs, are likely to be given the green light. This is thanks to a proposed County Council contribution of £674,739, a proposed Safety Camera Partnership contribution of £62,744 (still to be confirmed), and match funding from town and parish councils, which is would see improvements totalling £1,493,057 put in place over the coming months.

Members will also be considering updates on how £11m extra highway funding that was announced in September 2021 will be spent. West Norfolk is first on the list for its share of the £1m Road Safety Community Fund for locally important road safety schemes, a complete list of which are detailed in the report. And £5.86m of the £10m Highways Maintenance Pothole Fund has already been allocated for its first two years, 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Cabinet will discuss the reports when it meets at 10am on Monday, 7 March. Watch the meeting, live or afterwards and read the reports.