New £2.4m fund aims to save road expansion scheme

A council has been granted more than £2.4m to try to save a road expansion project in Rugby – but it risks losing the cash if the plans are abandoned.

Warwickshire County Council has received the money from the Department of Transport (DfT) for a scheme looking to increase the capacity of the Avon Mill Roundabout.

The plans would see an extra roundabout at the junction of Newbold Road and Hunters Lane, connection with dual carriageway, and the creation of a bridge for bikes and pedestrians.

But costs are said to be rising.

Plans to increase the capacity of the road have been on the cards since January 2023, when the council approved the creation of an outline business case.

That business case, which was due to be completed by September 2023, is still being finalised due to planning difficulties regarding a bridge over the River Avon.

If the business plan is not completed, the project could be scrapped by the council.

Council papers also show the project is now due to cost £40m in total, nearly double the figure proposed in January 2023.

If it does go ahead, the council must contribute 15% of the total cost.

The council voted to accept the new funding pot at a meeting on Tuesday, despite the possibility the DfT could ask for the money to be paid back if the scheme was not completed.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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