SPENDING on Inverclyde road and pavement repairs has more than doubled in seven years — but there are claims that not enough is being done to tackle the problem.

A Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives found expenditure on roads throughout the district has rocketed from over £3.3 million in 2007/08 to more than £7.1m in 2013/14.

But the party is concerned that money being invested across Scotland has been spent on ‘quick fixes’ as opposed to a long-term strategy to tackle crumbling carriageways and faulty footpaths.

Spending locally had dipped to a low of £2.3m in 2009-10 but the most recent data for the last financial year showed that figure has more than trebled.

In total, over £29m has been spent on roads and pavements in Inverclyde in the last seven years.

Inverclyde Tory Councillor David Wilson says there has been an improvement in the condition of roads across the district — but he wants more attention given to pavements to make life easier for the most vulnerable in our communities.

Cllr Wilson said: “The two most common complaints I receive are concerned with housing and road and pavement potholes.

“The potholes on our roads have decreased in the past year quite significantly but in spite of some work pavements remain a problem, particularly to those with impaired sight, the elderly and those with walking aids and buggies.” But Inverclyde Council bosses say more and more money is being spent on the area’s surfaces, including £1m on pavements.

Councillor Michael McCormick, environment and regeneration convener, said: “The council is specifically targeting the issue of potholes and road resurfacing right across Inverclyde.

“That move will surely be welcomed by motorists and residents as we tackle long term resurfacing problems.

“The council earlier this year added an extra investment of £500,000 to be spent over the next two years to specifically target potholes and their causes.

“Over the 2013/16 period, the council is putting £17m into road resurfacing, footway improvements and lighting investment to provide a real focus on long term improvements.

“Of this approximately £1m will be spent on footways.”