Staffordshire’s highways lead has said the county council will be doing everything it can to ensure it is successful in bidding to the government’s new ‘Structures Fund’.
The new fund, which opened for bids today, is designed to help councils fix key structures in their areas.
Peter Mason, Staffordshire County Council cabinet member for Strategic Highways said the county council has already responded to an initial survey about the fund, and has indicated that they will be putting forward the historic Chetwynd Bridge, a Grade 2* listed structure near Alrewas, for funding from the new scheme.
The structure is a critical gateway to the National Memorial Arboretum.
Peter said:
“We have already completed a feasibility study for Chetwynd Bridge, and we estimate that the project will cost around £27 million. This scheme represents a vital investment in both infrastructure and heritage, ensuring safe and reliable access to the Arboretum and supporting the wider local and regional economy. We believe it aligns with national priorities around infrastructure renewal, heritage preservation, and support for places of national significance.”
While welcoming the investment, county council also reiterated its calls for a national long-term fund for structures.
Peter continued:
“We have more than 500 structures in Staffordshire that are over 100 years old. We need to ensure we manage and mitigate the current risks and seek the necessary support to address these before they become an issue. This all comes at a cost, and under current funding levels it would take more than 500 years to repair them all.
“So, while we will certainly be bidding for this fund, we will continue to lobby government to properly fund our roads and structures.”
