LIB DEMS DELIVER ON BACK LANE REPAIRS

6.12.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Apr 2009

The Lib Dem budget plans have included extra funding for road and pavement improvements for South Heaton.

Under the proposals - which South Heaton's Labour councillors did not support - the basic allocation to each ward for road improvements will rise to an average of £212,000 per year - much higher than when Labour ran the authority.

This equates to an extra £4 million of spending on local roads citywide.

South Heaton will particularly benefit as the Lib Dem administration has changed the funding calculations to take extra account of back lanes - which South Heaton obviously has a higher proportion of than some parts of the city.

Councillor Greg Stone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said: "Extra funding will also be available for improvements to shopping areas, pedestrian guard rails, and replacing missing or damaged road signs and street names.

"We know that increasing funding for roads and pavements is a big priority locally. Don't let Labour take the credit locally for this important investment in South Heaton - they didn't support it."