Shirehall leaders are expected to agree to spend nearly £21 million on road and transport schemes across Shropshire when they meet next week.

The figure includes more than £15 million to maintain the existing roads and bridges network.

About £5.8 million will be spent by Shropshire Council on road and transport improvements.

This was including the introduction of new speed limits in both villages and urban areas, local safety schemes, and safer routes to school.

Further work will also be carried out on developing plans for the proposed Shrewsbury North West Relief Road.

Martin Taylor-Smith, council cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “While the main expenditure will focus on maintaining our existing roads and bridges, we will be introducing a number of priority improvements, particularly those relating to community concern over speeding traffic.

“These schemes will be coordinated to ensure any maintenance is carried out as part of new schemes wherever possible.

“This will not only achieve efficiencies in terms of costs, but also help to reduce any disruption for people using the county’s roads.”

Overall the funding settlement from Government for 2010/11 lower than the council was expecting when developing its Local Transport Plan. But a report to the cabinet next Wednesday warns money is likely to be in shorter supply next year.

“The overall indicative settlement for 2011/12 is significantly lower than allocations in recent years, and given the current economic climate, there is still considerable uncertainty around the level of funding we can expect from 2011/12 onwards,” says the report.

Figures show that next year’s settlement could be £2.3 million less and nearly £1 million less in 2012/13.

The report says that the LTP programme for this year attempts to achieve a balance of transport investment between the rural areas, the market towns, and Shrewsbury.

It is proposed to spend just over £1.7 million on safety and speed management schemes, including village speed limits. And £400,000 is being earmarked for maintaining and replacing street lighting columns, and upgrading lighting equipment to reduce energy.

Just over £1 million has been provisionally allocated to continue developing the North West Relief Road scheme.

By Dave Morris