Council leader calls on Government to back £42m infrastructure investment plan

‘OPPORTUNE MOMENT’: Councillor Mike Ross. Picture credit: Neil Holmes

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has called on the Government to invest in Hull’s ageing infrastructure.

Councillor Ross has written to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and the Transport Secretary to make the case for the city receiving a share of the £1bn Structures Fund announced on Monday.

It would be used to support the council’s five-year infrastructure investment plan, which as revealed by The Hull Story earlier this month includes one of the the most comprehensive bridge repair programmes in its history.

“The Government’s announcement of a £1bn Structures Fund comes at a very opportune moment for Hull,” said Councillor Ross.

“We have a ready to go plan for Hull’s bridges and road infrastructure, but in order to make it happen we need external grant funding from the Government.”

NORTH BRIDGE: Needs strengthening

The plan highlights critical issues affecting Hull’s bridges, structures, statues, monuments, and fountains.

Costing an estimated £42m, the scheme would encompass repairs to seven road bridges, two flyovers, three footbridges, the west bank River Hull walkway, as well as work on Victoria Pier, King William III statue and the fountains in Park Avenue and Westbourne Avenue.

It also marks a strategic shift in the council’s approach by integrating capital spending, maintenance, and inspections to ensure the longevity and conservation of the city’s assets.

Coun Ross said: “We very much hope that the Government, through the Structures Fund, will provide us with what we need to address the city’s long-term infrastructure needs.

“It is absolutely essential that a significant proportion of this new fund finds its way to the areas and cities in the North of England that have for too long been overlooked and ignored.

VICTORIA PIER: In ‘very poor condition’ and needs to be made safe

“Hull is a city built on water, with the River Hull running right through its centre as well as a number of other waterways crossing the city. This means there are hundreds of bridges, some of them of a complex nature due to the need to maintain access on the River Hull. They connect our city, so any problems with them have a disproportionate impact on traffic in Hull.

“Crucially, none of these factors are taken into account in the standard funding formula allocation from the Department for Transport relating to maintaining bridge assets.

“This lack of national recognition of the additional costs the city faces has led to significant disruption within Hull over many years.

“Our new investment plan, coupled with the right level of funding, would fix our broken infrastructure, benefitting our residents, our businesses, the wider economy and preserving much of our city’s heritage.”

ENNERDALE BRIDGE: Bearings need replacing

In his letter, Councillor Ross invited the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and the Secretary of State to the city to see for themselves what is required and to better understand Hull’s unique circumstances.

The Structures Fund is part of a national initiative to enhance and repair England’s transport infrastructure and road network.

The investment plan will be considered by the council’s cabinet on Monday.