Beith Helps Secures Funding for Crucial Road Repairs

10.15.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

Alan Beith has fought successfully for financial help for road repairs following the devastating floods in September 2008.

Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith has helped to secure £2.61 million pounds for Northumberland Council to cover the cost of flood repairs, in particular the badly damaged Black Bridge at Warkworth and the Lion Bridge in Alnwick.

The Transport Minister responded to Alan Beith's requests and has granted Northumberland Council £2.61 million to carry out vital repair work on damaged bridges as well as at 13 landslip sites and over 100 other maintenance schemes.

Alan Beith said:

"I am delighted that the Government has recognised the need for this extra funding and the severe financial strain caused by the floods.

"General road maintenance in Northumberland is always going to be expensive because of the huge area the county covers."

Leader of Northumberland County Council Jeff Reid said:

"We take the maintenance of our roads very seriously and would like to think the Government does as well. This money will provide work and also improve transport infrastructure which can only help the country's economic situation."

Alan Beith also added his support to a Motion in the House of Commons which criticises the Government's "waste and neglect" over road maintenance, as contained in the 2009 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey.