A Conservative councillor has launched a petition to convince Fife Council’s SNP and Labour administration to allocate funds for unadopted roads.
Cupar councillor Tony Miklinski wants the power-sharing authority to include £150,000 towards improving unadopted roads when it agrees its budget on February 22.
However, the move to reinstate funding for unadopted roads, which was phased out in 2015, comes at a time when the council faces making savings of £29 million to balance the books.
Mr Miklinski said: “Yes, the budget is very tight, but at the end of the day you have got to ask yourself where do you want to spend the money, and the answer is on keeping people safe, and that includes making sure there is salt in the grit bins and making sure roads are passable.
“Ten per cent of the roads people live on are not adopted for historical reasons. It’s a challenge but the Conservatives are looking to put £150,000 back into the budget.”
The petition states the six-figure sum available for unadopted roads started to be cut in 2009 and eventually disappeared in 2015.
This means residents living on these stretches have to pay for carriageway improvements, including fixing potholes, themselves.
Mr Miklinksi admitted that £150,000 “doesn’t go far”.
Fife Council’s Labour co-leader David Ross has suggested that a council tax rise could be implemented in April to help fund local services. This rise is expected to be 3%.
Mr Miklinski said the Conservatives would be opposing the increase.
He added: “I don’t think there’s a politician alive who doesn’t want more money to spend.
“But the way to do it is through growth and by generating more money to spend on what people want, rather than tax.”
Ken Cochran, secretary of Kemback, Pitscottie and Blebo Community Council, has signed the petition.
He said: “The main problem is potholes and getting them properly filled. Residents are dealing with huge potholes.
“These people are paying council tax and are not getting their road maintained.
“In the past Fife Council had a budget to carry out repairs but that goodwill gesture is gone. It would be nice if it was reinstated.”
