ST HELENS Council's cabinet has approved plans to invest £14.1m in roads across the borough.

The local authority says the funding will see £8.3m ploughed into a range of highway works, with the aim of creating safer road networks for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

An LED street lighting programme will also continue which will see old lampposts replaced with more energy and cost-efficient equipment.

Funds will also go towards tackling potholes.

Among the projects the investment aims to deliver will be the creation of safer routes to schools, improved walking and cycling routes, and footway and road resurfacing works.

Old pay and display machines in council car parks will be replaced with systems that offer a variety of ways to pay.

A further £5.8m will also be committed to an improvement scheme at Pewfall junction on the East Lancashire Road which will reduce traffic queuing on Liverpool Road. A dedicated pedestrian and cycle crossing will also be put in place across the East Lancs.

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for environmental services, Councillor Lynn Clarke, said: “We know that residents really care about the road networks in our town and want to see us investing in making it easier to travel for everyone whether you drive, cycle or walk.

“This investment is really good news for the borough and everyone will see benefits such as quicker journeys, safer roads and pavements and make our communities better-connected which will in turn help boost our economic growth too.”

The work is being funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s local growth fund, which will invest £2.6m.

Local developers will be contributing £500,000 and St Helens Council will invest the remaining £2.6m to help support economic growth.