Confirmation of a £2.4million investment in road repairs was a ray of sunshine yesterday on an otherwise gloomy day for Highland councillors.
Road maintenance is a stated priority of the local authority’s new Independent-led minority administration, which celebrated the additional resources for repairs to be carried out in this financial year.
Newly-appointed community services committee chairman Allan Henderson welcomed the decision.
He said: “Whilst it will not repair every pothole, it is a significant sum which will go a long way towards giving us some real improvements.”
Council leader Margaret Davidson added: “I am glad that road maintenance has been recognised as a priority and I am sure that use of surplus funds for this purpose will be greatly welcomed by many people across the Highlands.”
The allocation for structural road maintenance is distributed on a basis of “need” assessed by last year’s Scottish road maintenance condition survey.
Council area offices have submitted fully costed schemes which are capable of being delivered in the current financial year.
The schemes include surface dressing, recycling and resurfacing works and include for drainage works and white lining where required.