Spending plans revealed to repair bus shelters and potholes in Blackpool

Eventually it is hoped to replace more of the 250 shelters across the town owned by the council.

The investment is among a raft of priorities set out in the council's Local Transport Plan, which in February was allocated spending of £3.2m by the Department for Transport.

The total includes £667,000 for repairing potholes, which will be used as part of the Project Amber scheme to maintain key roads in the resort.

Project Amber helps road surfaces to be repaired more quickly using long lasting materials, while technology is used to pinpoint the areas most in need of maintenance.

The technique was used last summer to resurface the route from Progress Way to Starr Gate and up to the top of Queen’s Promenade. Maintenance was completed in smaller sections overnight to avoid disruption with all roads able to reopen the following morning.

Other priorities include improving road safety particularly to protect children from danger on the roads, easing congestion at traffic hotspots and improving routes for use by cyclists and pedestrians.

Councillors are due to consider the spending plans when the executive meets on Monday April 25.

Contractor Autocross Euroshel Limited has been appointed to carry out investment in bus shelters, which will also include refurbishing existing shelters.

A council report says: "Blackpool Council has a strategic objective to increase the number of passenger journeys made by bus.

"To assist in meeting this objective, a single contractor is required to supply and install replacement bus shelters, as well as repair and maintain existing bus shelters within Blackpool to improve the appearance, comfort and safety for passengers using bus services.

"The council has approximately 250 bus shelters that come under its direct ownership and responsibility.

"There is an initial requirement to install approximately 28 to 35 new replacement bus shelters. "

Bus and tram operator Blackpool Transport is owned by the council which has responsibility for maintaining infrastructure including bus and tram shelters across the town.