Reform Lancashire Delivers Record Investment in Roads, Footways and Civic Pride Improvements Across Lancashire

Biggest-Ever Investment in Lancashire's Roads

At the recent Cabinet meeting, the Reform Administration at Lancashire County Council approved a further £10 million investment in highways, alongside the allocation of funding from the Council's Strategic Contingency Budget of over £3 million to support a range of highly visible improvements that directly reflect Reform Lancashire's Civic Pride principles.

Since taking office, Reform Lancashire has made improving Lancashire's roads a key priority. When the administration inherited control from the Conservatives, the highways budget stood at £43 million.

Through strong financial management, an extensive efficiency review, and the hard work of officers and Cabinet Members to identify savings and additional funding opportunities, the budget has increased significantly:

• £43 million inherited from the previous administration

• £72 million approved in April 2026

• £77 million following a further £5 million investment in May 2026

• £87 million following Thursday's additional £10 million investment

• Further funding identified during Quarter 2: Reform Lancashire's ambition is to increase the total highways investment     to approximately £95 million

This represents the largest highways investment programme ever delivered in Lancashire, with no previous administration investing at this level in the county's road network.

County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

^{"This investment sends a clear message that Lancashire's roads and highways infrastructure matter."}

^{"The additional £10 million investment means we can accelerate repairs, improve safety and tackle long-standing issues that residents have repeatedly raised with us."}

^{"When Reform Lancashire says it is listening to residents, this is what delivery looks like. We are backing that commitment with record investment and visible action."}

Reform Lancashire's Civic Pride Principles in Action

Alongside this record highway investment, the Cabinet also agreed to utilise part of the Council's Strategic Contingency Budget, totalling £3.956 million in 2026/27 and £1.999 million in 2027/28, to support priorities identified by Reform Lancashire.

The Strategic Contingency Budget was established to address key priorities on a case-by-case basis, enabling the Administration to invest in services and improvements that have the greatest impact on residents' everyday lives.

Importantly, every allocation supports Reform Lancashire's Civic Pride principles, focusing on cleaner streets, safer footways, better-maintained public spaces and creating communities that people can be proud to call home.

County Councillor Ella Worthington, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride, said:

^{"Every pound allocated from the Strategic Contingency Budgetsupports our Civic Pride principles and focuses on the everyday issuesresidents tell us matter most."}

^{"People want to live in clean, safe and attractive communities.They want to see action on neglected spaces, overgrown verges, dirty subwaysand damaged footways. This funding delivers exactly that."}

£3 Million Package of Neighbourhood Improvements

A total of £3.03 million has been earmarked for delivery in 2026/27, including:

SaferFootways and Better Access

• £1 million for footway improvements and small-scale safety scheme

• £80,000 for public rights of way improvements accessed via Town and Parish Councils

Cleaner and Better-Maintained Communities

• £550,000 for additional grass verge cutting

• £50,000 for subway cleaning

• £50,000 for graffiti removal on Lancashire County Council's assets

• £25,000 for sign cleaning

• £100,000 for roundabout cleaning

Improved Road Safety and Visibility

• £200,000 for road marking refreshes

• £200,000 for crash barrier vegetation and self-seeded tree removal

• £150,000 for visibility splay cutting

• £125,000 for vegetation clearance around street lighting columns

Preparing for Winter and Protecting Infrastructure

• £150,000 for drainage root cutting

• £125,000 for channel sweeping

• £125,000 for subway ramp vegetation maintenance

These improvements will deliver visible benefits in communities across Lancashire, addressing many of the issues residents regularly raise with their local councillors.

Reform Lancashire Listening and Delivering

County Councillor Stephen Atkinson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said:

"Residents told us loud and clear that they wanted action on Lancashire's roads, pavements and local environment. Reform Lancashire listens, and Reform Lancashire delivers."

"Working closely with officers, we have identified savings and additional funding that allow us to invest at record levels in the services residents see and use every day."

"This is about focusing on the basics, investing in our communities and restoring pride in Lancashire. From roads and footways to verges, public rights of way and cleaner public spaces, residents will see the difference."

Delivering What Matters Most

From record investment in highways to cleaner subways, safer footways, better-maintained verges and improved public rights of way, Reform Lancashire is delivering a programme of improvements that residents will see and benefit from across the county.

Reform Lancashire is listening to residents, investing in the essentials and delivering visible improvements where they matter most.

Reform Lancashire: Listening to Residents. Delivering for Lancashire.