An Aberdeenshire Council political group will today urge members to back funding urgent road safety measures.
The local authority’s Democratic Independent and Green Group (DIGG) group is calling for improvements to the region’s routes through traffic-calming and speed reduction schemes.
Digg members, Paul Johnston and Martin Ford, said as the grant settlement from the Scottish Government to the council is not yet known, there is “considerable uncertainty” around the amount the council will have to save to balance its budget.
However they added it was a “reasonable assumption” that £10million of spending cuts and savings would be required on top of those already identified in the 2017-18 draft revenue budget.
Last night they said ending a council subsidy on car parking would generate £167,000 that could to towards improved roads safety measures.
This would involve the local authority increasing parking charges used to manage car parking, and using the income generated for the improvements.
Mr Johnston said: “Speeding on local roads, and the road safety issues it causes, is a recurring issue.
“With further significant savings required in next year’s budget, there’s going to be no new or spare money for anything.
“Current projections show a forecast deficit for car parks of £167,000 in the current year.”
Mr Ford added: “The DIGG is keen for the council’s budget consultation to include seeking views on the option of additional funding for traffic calming and speeding reduction measures, this to be paid for by ending the tax-payer subsidy for car parking.
“That would generate £167,000 for enhanced traffic calming provision.”
A meeting of the full council will today discuss an update on the authority’s financial strategy.
