A NEW £2.5million fund for pothole and pavement repairs was announced by Lancashire County Council yesterday.

The cash, saved out of underspending on other larger road projects, has been split between the authority’s 12 boroughs.

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County highways boss John Fillis is asking local politicians for the suggestions on where the cash could be spent.

Already MPs and councillors’ ideas are pouring in including improving the surface on the A59 through the Ribble Valley, repairs in Clayton-le-Moors and Rishton, to tackling potholes in Burnley’s Kibble Bank area, Fence and Salterforth.

Local cash allocations are: Burnley £210,360; Chorley £217,266; Fylde £168,170; Hyndburn £188,511; Pendle £194,924; Ribble Valley £110,672; and Rossendale £141,110.

Cllr Fillis said: “I’m pleased that our effective ways of working have led to money being available to help invest in local roads and pavements in our county.”

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: “This is welcome but it is far short of what is needed to deal with potholes and other highway problems in my constituency.

“The whole of the A59 through the Ribble Valley from Samlesbury to Skipton could take up this £110,000 while villages such as West Bradford and Grindleton are in need of urgent pothole repairs.”

Burnley Council’s Labour leader MarkTownsend said: “This cash is very welcome and I am sure every councillor will have their own suggestions to spend it.

“Ones that come quickly to mind are the Kibble Bank area, Brennand Street and Lyndhurst Road.”

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said: “We certainly need the money.

“Many road in the constituency are a shambles of potholes.

“If we are talking towns, the county could spend it on roads in Colne and Earby, “For villages, Fence and Salterforth come to mind.”

Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson, Labour county councillor for Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors said: “This extra fund is very welcome.

“There are plenty of places to spend it in the borough.

“I would suggest Moor Street and the area around Sycamore Crescent and Chestnut Grove in Clayton-le-Moors or Somerset Avenue in Rishton.”

Cllr Fillis added: “This Local Priority Response Fund is due to the excellent work that has been done by our highways teams.”