MORE of Dorset’s damaged roads will be fixed over the next three months thanks to extra funding.

Up until the end of March, 53 sites across the county will be resurfaced by Dorset Highways.

The sites have been identified following inspections by community highway officers.

Last September, Dorset County Council cabinet approved additional funds for highway maintenance and now the funding is being used alongside extra money for the Department for Transport.

Additional drainage work is also taking place, with a dedicated team funded to investigate known historic issues. The C5 at Corfe Mullen, the C2 Castleman Trailway, B3072 at Three Legged Cross, B3067 at Lytchett Minster and C6 at Bere Regis will initially be targeted.

Dorset County Council said most of the flooding issues will be resolved through the use of high pressure jetting of blocked pipes, clearing grips, emptying existing ditches and cutting new ditches.

Larger scale drainage schemes are also being investigated, with the aim of designing schemes during the year, for Thornhill Road at Stalbridge, Clarendon Close in Gillingham, Front Street, East Stour, Knobcrook Road in Wimborne and Broaden Bridgein Broadoak.

An extra gully emptier is also in action across the county to clear more drainage channels on Dorset’s C and D class roads. This will help prevent flooding – ensuring rural communities remain connected during the winter – and will protect roads from water damage.

Councillor Daryl Turner, cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “The next three months of work will make a significant difference to the condition of our road network and will feed into our other programmes of work, such as surface dressing.”