AS THE budget for the next 12 months was rubberstamped, a few late amendments were made using reserve funds.

Although the council is under severe financial pressure, more than £4m of the New Homes Bonus remains unspent.

The cash is not ring-fenced, so the Conservatives announced a portion of it would be used for projects around the town.

About £500,000 will be used to fix potholes and clear a backlog of gully-cleaning around the town.

It was also announced that £100,000 will be spent putting in place a 20mph speed restriction on Commercial Road to improve access and make the road safer.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick), the cabinet member for regeneration, said: “What we have at the moment is two lanes of traffic merging to one.

“So you see one lane of drivers queuing patiently and then other drivers speeding up the other side.

“We want to extend the 20mph zone down Commercial Road to prevent this happening.

“Eventually we want to make the whole of the road one lane, with parking going in the empty space.

“But the £100,000 will get us the signs, the orders in place and possibly draw up the plans for the lane change.”

There was a also a boost for residents of Liden, as a further £70,000 was announced for works upgrading the village centre.

It brings the total amount set aside for the regeneration at £100,000.

Coun Derique Montaut (Lab, Liden, Eldene and Park South) welcomed the news, saying it was much needed.

“It is not the amount which was initially announced when we first heard the village centre was to be regenerated a few years ago but it is not to be sniffed at,” he said.

“This is something I have been pushing for so I am glad to see the money has been given.”

The Cabinet member responsible for the village centres, Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan) said work should start in the next six months, as well as on Covingham Square.

He said: “A total of £200,000 is being made available by the Conservatives to improve Covingham Square and Liden shops to allow the work promised to local residents to happen to a high standard in the next few months. “As part of the council tax budget on Monday night, we topped up the money by £100,000 to avoid any risk of the money running out, and is all part of running a tight ship.

Improvements to Granville Street and Freshbrook were completed last year, Covingham Square is scheduled to start at the end of March and Liden will happen this summer.”