NEW CONTRACTOR APPOINTED TO MAINTAIN ROADS IN £300M DEAL

A new contractor will be responsible for the maintenance of the county’s roads and pavements from May next year.East Sussex County Council has appointed Balfour Beatty Living Places Ltd in a seven-year contract worth £297million, with an option to extend to a maximum of 14 years — worth up to £730 million.

Balfour Beatty Living Places will be responsible for maintaining the county’s highway network and infrastructure, including roads, pavements, drainage, streetlights, traffic lights and bridges. They will also provide winter gritting across the county and deliver highway improvement schemes.

During an extensive procurement process, bidders were asked to demonstrate how they would support the county council’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, ensure quality of work, provide value for money and how they can improve social wellbeing across the county.

Cllr Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment said: “It is vital for our residents and our economy that our road network is wellmaintained, and work carried out is of the right quality.

“This new contract has undergone extensive scrutiny to ensure it reflects the feedback we receive on our highways work and that it