ROADS across Southend are set to be resurfaced and repaired as part of a £5million cash injection.

Southend Council has revealed 24 roads and 45 pavements will be spruced up over the course of five months.

The extra £5million brings the total invested into the area’s roads and pavements to £10million in 2021/22.

Roads were chosen for the revamp based on issues including road condition, bus routes, key routes, claims made, incidents, and flood risk.

The streets being resurfaced include Eastern Esplanade, Western Esplanade and Southchurch Road, with works - carried out by contractor Marlborough - set to run from October to March.

Westcliff hairdresser Claire Turner, 42, said: “This is definitely needed, the potholes have just got absolutely ridiculous. Whether it’s from cars parking on the pavements or just from the weather.

“If you drive down some of the roads, especially in Westcliff, you find yourself trying to dodge the potholes.

“It will definitely make drivers lives easier, providing it’s done properly and isn’t just a quick fix. Something definitely needs to be sorted.”

Read more:

Tributes paid to 'loving' mum who died after Southend house fire

Drugs and guns seized and pair arrested during dramatic raid at industrial estate

Ron Woodley, cabinet member for transport, said: “This administration promised to deliver £10million investment into our highways and pavements each year for the next five financial years, and I am delighted to announce that we are meeting that figure for the first financial year.

“This capital investment means we will have repaired and resurfaced 54 roads and 76 pavements this year alone, making a significant difference to the borough’s roads and pavements and a real step-change compared to previous years of under-investment.

“I would like to thank our highways team for working hard to enable us to make this huge level of investment into the borough’s roads and pavements.

“There may be some slight disruption due to the nature of the works, but Marlborough staff will work to ensure this is kept to a minimum.”

All road closures will be signposted in advance of the project while works will be weather dependent.

Crews are not able to lay roads in bad weather.

Joe Revell, Marlborough Highways director, said: “We are delighted to be part of such an ambitious project and are looking forward to the transformative change this investment will bring to the borough.

“As a local company, we understand the needs of Southend and will work hard to deliver a high quality project with minimum disruption, to the benefit of the community.”

To see a full list of the streets which will be resurfaced visit here.