CASH allocated for road and pavements repairs in Suffolk has been slashed by more than half a million pounds, it can be revealed today.

CASH allocated for road and pavements repairs in Suffolk has been slashed by more than half a million pounds, it can be revealed today.

County bosses claim they have been forced to cut costs to maintenance budgets for highways services, citing a poor settlement with central government as the reason.

A council spokeswoman said: “We have made £0.6m savings against the maintenance budget for highways related services from last year to this.

“This equals a reduction in costs from £16.2m to £15.6m.”

While Suffolk County Council (SCC) has overall responsibility for roads and pavements, in Ipswich the work is sub-contracted to Ipswich Borough Council.

Today, an Ipswich borough councillor warned that several roads in parts of the town were unsafe and budget cuts would only worsen the problem.

John Cook, councillor for the Priory Heath ward, said he was concerned about several roads in south east Ipswich being unsafe to use, including Hamilton Road and Lindbergh Road.

He said: “There are a number of roads which are in a poor state and some which I would say are hazardous.

“With the cut to the amount of money being spent this is only likely to get worse.”

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: “I can confirm that the footways revenue budget has been cut and that we are concentrating on safety work.

“However, there are three proactive schemes taking place, where we obtained capital funding from SCC.

“Two of these are Sidegate Lane and Murray Road.

“We are currently investigating the state of the footway in Lindbergh Road.

“If it turns out not to meet safety standards the council will take action to remedy it.”

Have you had problems with the state of the pavements and footways in Ipswich?

Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

AN ELDERLY resident of Ipswich has today claimed he is forced to use his car to avoid pavements which he says are hazardous.

Frank Paul, 87, of Ransome Road, south east Ipswich, said: “The pavements near to where I live are the worst pavements I have ever encountered and I've lived in quite a few places in my time.

“The walk ways are uneven and there are holes everywhere, I have to be really careful as I fell a few years ago so now I've started driving down the road instead of walking just to avoid them.”