CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is asking you what areas its highways service should prioritise amid increasing financial pressures.

The highways team is responsible for assets in excess of £5 billion and is tasked with keeping the borough’s road network moving.

As well as roads and pavements, the service also covers street lighting, bridges and structures, traffic signals, public footpaths, trees and gullies.

And it is asking members of the public what it should be spending most of its time and budget maintaining and mending.

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: “The council is seeking your views to help us decide what the priorities of the services provided by our highways team should be in the future.

“With a budget of around £20 million, our highways service is one of the largest in the council.

“Financial pressures are increasing due to reduced government funding, combined with competing demands for general road maintenance and new capital projects.

“This means we will need to be both prudent and innovative in our future approach.

“We are seeking feedback on your experience of the current service, what you think should be prioritised in the future, the scope of services and key criteria for the new service.

“I hope as many people as possible will get involved.”

An eight-week consultation period has now started and will run through to August 30, with consultation methods being amended in the light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to ensure people can take part safely.

Residents can give their views by visiting cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/highwaysconsultation or emailing highwayservicedelivery@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Comments can also be submitted via post to: 'Delivering our Highways’, Insight and Intelligence, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Council Offices, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE.