THE Conservative Group on Fife Council want £100million spent on road maintenance.

Ahead of the budget meeting on 12th February, the Tories have called for council cash to be spent on the Kingdom’s highways over the next 10 years.

Group leader, Councillor Dave Dempsey (right), said, “Scheduled spending on the roads in Fife isn’t enough in the long-term to even keep them in their present state, let alone improve them.

“There’s £156m of unallocated money over the next 10 years in the capital plan.

“There’s a great temptation on politicians to spend this on bright, shiny, new things that they can point to – schools are a good example. And there’s no doubt that a new school is a good thing.

“However, roads are more basic even than schools.

“We think it’s time for the council to make a statement, so we’re calling for a commitment of £100m, spread across the 10 years from 2015-16 to 2024-25.

“That’s not enough to fix everything that needs fixed but the reports tell us that it will make things better.” Cllr Dempsey said the council had recently produced a review of the transportation budget and that “one message is absolutely clear”.

He explained, “The council has two budgets to decide on in February. The revenue budget – the one with the potential £77m gap in coming years – is much trailed and discussed but the capital budget, which covers large, long term projects, is just as important but often overlooked.

“Councillors have been presented with a series of reports telling us about the repairs backlog in the roads and buildings that are fundamental to keeping the Fife economy going and the council functioning.

“Over £100m is needed for roads and at least that much for council buildings.

“While we’d like to meet both bills, we think that the roads should come first.

“Everyone uses or depends on them.

“Even the housebound depend on roads for everything and everyone that comes to them.”