FOLLOWING years of planning and fund sourcing the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road was set to undergo a major makeover in September 2010.

The county had already spent £1million carrying out preparatory works in anticipation of the main scheme to start, including six months of clearing verges and removing rare sand lizards.

But in February that year, following the coalition government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Dorset became one of the first victims of the spending cuts and was informed the scheme had been downgraded.

How do we pay for A338 repairs? Make it a toll road

The council considered paying for the scheme with loans and grants, but that was not possible because the authority faced a £48m budget cut and is still looking at ways to cut costs.

Mike Winter, pictured, head of highways management at Dorset County Council, said the way major schemes are funded is changing with the Department of Transport rolling out proposals to establish Local Transport Bodies.

“We are continuing to investigate funding for the improvements to the A338 Spur Road, as the road has reached the end of its design life and is in need of significant repairs.

“Without additional funding to carry out the work in one stage we would need to undertake regular and costly annual maintenance, which is unsustainable for the council and unacceptable in terms of the ongoing disruption it would cause drivers.

“There is no lack of will within Dorset County Council to push to get the A338 improved. It has been an aspiration for many years and remains a high priority however, with the current proposals to change the way such schemes are funded, it is unlikely that funding will be available in the immediate future.”