More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Kent's crumbling road network could be set for a major cash injection today in the Budget.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a new £420 million investment to help fix potholed local roads across the country, spread over the next five years.
An extra £3.5bn of "new money" will be allocated to major local routes that fall under the remit of local councils.
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It comes as the deputy leader of Kent County Council calls for a £20 million cash injection to help address a shortfall in its spending power - warning that some authorities could go bankrupt if they do not receive a bailout.
The road money will be complemented by a £30 billion fund to Highways England to upgrade motorways that have also deteriorated badly over recent years due to lack of investment.
There will also be a £150m fund to improve road junctions.
Video: Millions pledged to fix Kent's roads.
The news is likely to be welcome to by transport chiefs in the county who are responsible for maintaining 5,000km of roads.
Earlier this year, road chiefs warned unless there were changes to funding, the county’s road network risked a "rapid spiral of asset deterioration".
The warning came amid claims there was a staggering £630m backlog of repairs needed across the county.
KCC said that as the Gateway to Europe, its roads carried a disproportionate amount of traffic that was not taken into account when funding was calculated.
News of the extra funds has been welcomed by cabinet member for planning, Cllr Mike Whiting (Con).
"Any extra investment in our roads, particularly for the repair of potholes, is very welcome," he said.
"KCC continues to make Kent’s 5,000 miles of roads, and the condition of them, a priority, and has been spending more in recent years.
"Any help government can give will help, of course, and I will be arguing for Kent to receive its fair share of any new cash."
Meanwhile, council chiefs are pinning their hopes on today's Budget to help them bridge a multi-million pound shortfall - and have warned that some authorities could go bankrupt if they do not receive a bailout.
Kent County Council deputy leader Cllr Peter Oakford (Con) said he hoped the government had listened to the concerns councils risked financial meltdown after years of spending cuts.
The council recently announced it intended to increase council tax bills by and inflation busting 5%.
“We hope the government has realised the impact of austerity on councils," he said.
"Kent County Council would like to see an additional £20m and that is just what we need to keep going as we are today.
"I think the government has started to see the impact of austerity on local government with the continuous reduction of the revenue support grant.
"We know that there are a lot of councils having really tough times."
KCC has already been told that it can expect to get about £6m from a £240m pot the government has set aside to help meet the rising demand for social care for vulnerable older people.
Cllr Oakford said the money to alleviate bed blocking was welcome but meant other challenges.
“That is money only for this year and is aimed at getting people out of hospital beds," he told KentOnline.
"Once they are out of hospital and going to social care, it puts incremental pressures on the county council.”
However, the authority says there are further areas that need more money and that if it does not get extra money, services could be cut and reserves raided.
In other announcements, the Chancellor is expected to provide £900m to reduce business rates to help struggling small businesses and high street shops.
And after a critical report by auditors last week which warned that border security could be compromised, there has been a call for extra investment to help recruit and prepare more border staff in Kent in anticipation of there being a 'no-deal' Brexit.
Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said it was vital the government made more money available to help boost the number of border staff.
“I have long argued that Britain needs to be ready on day one for every eventuality – especially at the Dover frontline," he said.
"The Chancellor should commit to significant investment in our borders in the Budget."
There is also likely to be confirmation that a cap on the amount of money local councils can borrow to invest in housing will be lifted and a further freeze on fuel duty.
Clive Relf, of chartered accountants Kresten Reeves, said he did not expect any significant game changers in the budget.
“We are not expecting anything that would disenfranchise Conservative voters," he said.
"The party is in a very difficult position because it doesn't have an outright majority.
"I am not expecting council's to be in a better position than they are now before the budget.”
