Councillors have clashed over whether £1.3million of delayed road repairs should be brought forward.
Widespread drought damage during the summer has meant that many regular highways schemes for the next three months have been postponed, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Jamie Waller.
The Reform-run Lincolnshire County Council say they need to keep under budget, and will get to those works as soon as possible.
However the Conservatives urged for the works to be funded from a contingency pot for unforeseen circumstances, warning the problems would become worse if left.
A motion to reinstate the £1.3million of works failed at full council on Friday (December 19) after Reform members voted it down.
Conservative Councillor Charlotte Vernon told the meeting: “It’s not an extravagance, it’s a reinstatement of planned works.
“These works are not optional extras – they are resurfacing work and surface improvements which prevent small defects from becoming major failures.
“It just pushes costs into the future – often at a higher price. Over time, the whole network will deteriorate faster.”
Despite budget pressures, the council is projected to spend £3.5million less on highways than expected this year, meaning the borrowed money could be replaced later.
Independent Councillor Phil Dilks said: “The Deepings have been waiting patiently for years for two major schemes, for roads which are in a horrendous state.
“Then I received an email saying they would be deferred due to budget pressures – possibly in the 26/27 financial year, or maybe the one after.
“The figures don’t add up.”
A committee report said the selected works for January to March 2026 had been “cancelled”, although the council now says that is inaccurate.
The council’s Reform deputy leader, Councillor Robert Gibson said: “Offices have been asked to stick within the budget.
“Not a single project has been cancelled or stopped, just moved, and we are still fixing roads and potholes.
“The roads over summer faced serious drought and cracking which we need to get to urgently.”
