The maintenance of the Island’s footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways is benefiting from extra funding for the remainder of the 2017/18 financial year.
The Isle of Wight Council has secured an additional £25,000 from developments to help pay for infrastructure and the upkeep of parts of the network.
This means that the original £50,000 of capital funding allocated in the budget from April 2017 to the end of next March has now risen to above £75,000.
Councillor John Hobart, Cabinet member for environment said:
“This is crucial extra money to ensure we can keep our vital and highly-popular rights of way network up to standard.
“It had been very tough for us in our budget earlier this year to take the decision to seek savings and reduce our rights of way funding to £50,000. I am delighted we have been able to find the extra money and would like to pay tribute to the superb work of our council officers in this area.
“With budgets under pressure it will be another challenge to find funds for the next financial year – but we are determined to find solutions to those pressures and make sure we have the best services we can.
“Our rights of way network is something we are all very proud of on the Island, and we remain committed to ensuring it is fully protected, maintained and promoted for all to enjoy.”
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A motion was considered at last night’s (Wednesday’s) Full Council meeting requesting extra funding for the Island’s rights of way network.
