RELATIVELY small road improvements should be included in Dorset Council's proposed multi-million pound highways budget – according to councillors from either end of the county.

Rodwell and Wyke councillor Kate Wheller says while she welcomes the planned budget for roads in the years ahead – she would welcome the scope for smaller schemes to also be included.

She told this week's Cabinet meeting that spending relatively small sums on local projects often meant a great deal to residents.

Cranborne councillor Piers Brown made a similar plea.

He said a project, probably costing less than £20,000, had been deferred at Rawston Corner, in his ward, despite the road flooding and leading to at least one accident.

Speaking after the meeting he said that some clearance work had been carried out earlier this year but it was discovered that the pipe which drainage flows into had collapsed, leaving water nowhere to go, but on the road.

"We were unable to secure funding in the last financial year. It was deferred to this year, and from the last update I received, it has now been deferred again," he said.

Highways portfolio holder Cllr John Andrews said although the budget had been outlined it had not yet been finally agreed and there should be scope for smaller projects to be considered before a budget decision in December.

A report to councillors says the county could receive £115million between 2026 and 2030 if current Department of Transport funding levels continue.

Planned spending for the coming years on bigger projects includes £1.5m for the A30 Shaftesbury Bridge repairs with a similar sum for maintenance on the Ferrybridge between Wyke Regis and Portland and a slightly smalller sum for junction improvements in Dorchester.

Also proposed are improvement schemes at North Quay, Weymouth, costing £1.9M; £1.3m at Over Compton to improve road safety at a junction which has seen several serious accidents; £800,000 on a road safety scheme for the Portland Beach Road and £950,000 for safety improvements to the Weymouth, Wessex Stadium roundabout.

The council's current base budget for highways is around £12.4million to support maintenance, parking services, and other improvements to the county's road network.

The figure is expected to rise to more than £15m in the coming financial year, subject to confirmation of Government funding and final agreement on highway budget priorities.