BUDGETS have been outlined for keeping local roads and pavements - with the council facing a bill of almost £4 million per year to keep things in top condition.

A new report also revealed car use on the Isle of Cumbrae has impacted the state of its roads, with £130,000 having to be earmarked for urgent improvements.

Surface dressing work have been set aside to boost the island's roads infrastructure, benefitting motorists, cyclists and walkers on the well used and popular island ring road.

Russell McCutcheon, Head of Commercial Services at North Ayrshire Council, said: "The estimated carriageway maintenance backlog figure for North Ayrshire is currently £31.6 million. The steady state figure for maintaining our roads at present condition is £3.8 million per year.

"The allocated capital investment supported by revenue funding should maintain our roads at a steady state."

The budget for the forthcoming year in terms of local road improvements has also been outlined.

Carriageway resurfacing will take place at Laverock Drive, Burnside Way, Gateside Street and Allanpark Street, costing a total of £124,000.

Similar works on the B871 through West Kilbride, including Ritchie Street and Halfway Street, will cost £127,000.

The quality of footpaths is a common moan in Largs and the council are tackling this with a footway resurfacing plan which includes Bankhouse Avenue, £21,000, and Aubery Crescent from boating pond, house side only, £5,500.

A total of £10,000 will also be spent on finishing off footway resurfacing in Clyde Street in Millport.

A sum of £100,000 has been earmarked for street lighting improvements for Boyd Street, Frazer Street, Gateside Street, Glenburn Crescent, Cunninghame Drive and Tron Place.

Three sections of Brisbane Glen Road will also be concreted at a cost of £22,000.

There will also be works taking place in Sandybrae in Skelmorlie between Skelmorlie Castle Road and The Crescent at a cost of £20,000.

North Ayrshire Council is responsible for the maintenance of the adopted local road network as well as its other non-adopted road assets.

However the Council has no responsibility for the maintenance of the trunk road network, which falls to Transport Scotland.

The overall annual spend for 2019-20 throughout North Ayrshire for all the road improvements is budgeted at £4.56m.

The listed projects are based on a prioritisation model which ranks necessity on a number of factors including its condition, safety, and usage.