Following last week’s meeting of the Highways and Transport Strategic Board, approval has been granted for how Cumberland Council will allocate the £27.348 million of highways maintenance funding received from the Department for Transport for 2026/27.

For the first time, the council has created a dedicated £2.85 million fund for the unclassified road network, primarily residential streets in towns and villages, as well as minor rural roads. This targeted investment will help address clear deterioration identified through inspections and public reports, including potholes and other defects.

The condition of unclassified roads was highlighted by the Department for Transport (DfT) as a factor in Cumberland’s recent red rating for highway maintenance performance. However, the council had already begun work to improve this network, and the DfT has been informed of the actions underway.

Over the next four years, the programme will see:

Funding has also been allocated to bridges, road lighting, footways and cycleways, traffic signals and the public rights of way network.

Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:

“It is fantastic news that Cumberland Council has secured £27.348 million in highways maintenance funding, and for the first time, we have created a dedicated £2.85 million fund specifically to improve residential and minor rural roads. This targeted investment will make a real difference to everyday travel, and we hope will be welcomed by our residents.

“Our inspectors are out on the network daily, but we still rely on our communities to help us identify problems. If you spot a defect, whether it’s a pothole, broken streetlight or damaged sign, please report it through our website. There is a button on the homepage called ‘Report a problem with a street or road’, click it and report it, and only takes around five minutes. Once it’s logged, we can assess it and plan repairs.”

(Picture: Cumberland Council)