THE next £2.5 million stage of the ambitious programme to end Blackburn with Darwen’s pothole nightmare has been outlined to councillors.

More than 45 roads across 14 wards are on a priority list for urgent resurfacing at a cost of £1.1 million.

The proposals for the second 12 months of the £17.5 four-year programme, using the latest hi-tech highway treatments, will be considered by senior councillors on Thursday.

The borough’s ruling Executive Board is set to approve the plans, allowing the work to start in weeks.

A further programme using the remaining £1.4 million will be drawn up later this year.

Borough environment director Sayyed Osman will be authorised to prepare further surveys in the light of ‘the exceptionally heavy and persistent rain experienced recently’.

He said “As a council we are now investing in new works to improve the conditions of our roads.

“By repairing roads before they reach a serious state of deterioration, we are saving the borough money in the long term.

“Residents and businesses have told us the state of the roads matter to them and we know it is essential for a vibrant local economy.

“Motorists, passengers on public transport and cyclists will all benefit from new improved roads.”

Last year the council borrowed £6.5 million for the project.

The aim is that by 2017, the 100 mile backlog of highway repairs will have been dealt with and the 350 mile network will be fit for another 20 years.

Engineers hope that the situation, where an average of 1,000 potholes considered a safety risk are repaired at a cost of £50,000 every month, leaving hundreds of others untreated, will be ended.

* THE roads affected by the new schedule for repairs by ward include - AUDLEY: Lincoln Close; Nottingham Street. AUDLEY/QUEEN'S PARK: Lower Audley Street. AUDLEY/SHEAR BROW: Birley Street; Manner Sutton Street. CORPORATION PARK: Gorse Road; Leamington Road; EARCROFT: Birchall Avenue; Hector Road; Hollins Grove Street; Lynwood Avenue; Redvers Road; Westwell Street; Anchor Avenue; Anchor Grove. EWOOD: Andrew Close; Scotland Bank Terrace; Tiverton Drive. FERNHURST: Greenbank Terrace; Duchess Street; Milking Lane. LIVESEY WITH PLEASINGTON: Horden View; Preston Old Road; St David’s Avenue; St Michael’s Close; Livesey Branch Road. MARSH HOUSE: Spring Vale Garden Village; St John’s Street. MEADOWHEAD: Foxstones Crescent. MEADOWHEAD/EWOOD: Parklands Way. MILL HILL: Mill Hill Bridge Street; Parkinson Street; New Chapel Street; Queen Victoria Street; St Aidan’s Avenue; Stakes Hall Place. QUEEN'S PARK: Lower Audley Street. ROE LEE: East Lancs Road. SUDELL: Ellison Fold Terrace; Sarah Street . SUNNYHURST: Bright Street; Carley Street; Earnsdale Avenue; Everton Street; School Street; Tockholes Road; WHITEHALL: Park Road; Queen’s Road; St Barnabus Street.