MORE funding is needed to meet the 'eye-watering' cost of maintaining roads and footpaths in Newport, councillors have warned.

Newport council is drawing up its highways asset management plan for the next five years, which includes planning maintenance for roads, footpaths and cycleways, and street lighting.

But the plan shows that the council does not have enough money to maintain its highway assets up to their current standard.

Councillors warned that a lack of funding could result in a 'deterioration' of the highway network over the coming years at a scrutiny meeting on Monday.

The annual cost to maintain all of the council's highways assets to their current standard is estimated at more than £11.5million.

This includes £7.7m for carriageways, £1.5million for footpaths and cycleways, £996,000 for structures, £972,000 for street lighting and £298,000 for traffic management.

However the council's highways budget for the year ahead is currently just £3.13m.

Cllr Miqdad Al-Nuaimi warned that footpaths, for instance, would 'deteriorate' due to a lack of funding.

Currently one per cent of footpaths are in a poor condition, in the council's red category, but this is estimated to rise to five per cent by 2024.

"Footpaths are used by a lot of people and it will be noticed if they deteriorate," Cllr Al-Nuaimi said.

"If the level of depreciation is £1.5m each year and we are not able to spend more than £0.5million then we are going to see more going into the red by 2024/25."

Cllr Al-Nuaimi added that letting footpaths deteriorate could result in the council having a hefty bill for repairs at a later date, when the council would have to undertake 'radical' work.

Cllr John Richards asked how the costs for maintaining the highway were calculated, calling the figures 'eyewatering.'

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Paul Jones, head of streetscene and city services, agreed the figures were high, and said the council was continuing to lobby Welsh Government for more funding.

Mr Jones said the council's highways allocation was similar to other local authorities.

Cllr David Fouweather raised concern over a "considerable drop" in the council's allocated budget after 2021.

The anticipated highways budget is estimated at just £200,000 from 2021, compared to the £3.13m for the year ahead.

Mr Jones said the council 'anticipates' that more funding will become available, but that currently the Welsh Government has only committed allocations up to 2021.

The draft strategy, which will ensure roads are kept safe and meet minimum standards, is expected to be approved as a cabinet member decision in the coming weeks.