Nottinghamshire County Council's leader says the idea that £20 million would fix the area's roads is "for the birds." Ben Bradley says £200 million would probably be needed to bring all of Nottinghamshire's roads up to standard.
The leader of the Conservative-controlled authority was speaking after its annual budget meeting, which saw an amendment rejected pledging to invest £20.5 million into Nottinghamshire's roads. The Independent Alliance group of councillors said it would have funded this investment partially by cancelling the investment in new Top Wighay offices.
Conservative councillors had accused the Independent Alliance of a "gimmick." But speaking during the budget meeting on Thursday (February 9), independent councillor Francis Purdue-Horan said: "If a gimmick invests in our broken roads and pavements, if a gimmick invests in the highways infrastructure, if a gimmick invests in our community, then I will choose this responsible, positive choice."
