ESSEX County Council has pledged to invest in LED street lighting as part of a £300million cash pot to improve the road network.

The council wants to invest the money over the next three years, with £137million set aside in its budget for 2016/17.

It will go towards improvements to road surfaces, lighting and pavements.

Rodney Bass, Tory councillor responsible for infrastructure, said the investment would add to improvements which are already taking place.

He said: “We know how important this is to people and to businesses and we intend to continue that trend, with our attention now shifting to tackling defects on urban and rural roads and estates, investing in better lighting and better footpaths.

We will also be looking at investing in particular roads and bridges and also in LED lighting. Overall, the highways maintenance budget is increasing by over 30 per cent, which is proof positive of our ambition to keep the quality of Essex’s road network up there with the best in the country.”

Eddie Johnson, Tory councillor responsible for highways, said: “We have listened when local people have told us that cracks and holes in the roads and pavements matter.

“We have listened when business has told us that getting from A to B easily and quickly helps them to prosper and we have listened to the partners who have said that alongside the new homes and jobs we desperately need good infrastructure.”

Essex County Council’s budget for 2016/17 will be debated at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

The Tory administration wants to impose a 3.99 per cent council tax rise for the year.

John Spence, councillor responsible for finance, said: “The tough financial management we have exercised has enabled us to deliver a budget which we know will help to drive growth and the quality of life in our county.”