MILLIONS for new bridges across a major city road and a government cash injection for adult social care were given the thumbs up by the county council.

An extra £7 million for three bridges across the A4440 Southern Link Road was already backed by the council's cabinet in November last year but required a final green light by the council when they met in full on Thursday (January 17).

The bridges will be built between the Ketch and Whittington roundabouts, with the Broomhall Way footbridge to the west of the Norton roundabout. The Crookbarrow Way footbridge and a bridge, which will link the two halves of Upper Battenhall farm, will be built either side of the new Battenhall railway bridge.

Money to pay for the Crookbarrow Way and 'Farm Accommodation' bridges was allocated by the council in September 2014 as part of the project to the dual the Southern Link Road but the council said it needed more money.

Council also approved a government one-off cash injection of £2.4 million

The money from the Department of Health comes from a £240 million pot announced by the Chancellor Phillip Hammond during last year's Autumn statement.

The extra money would help to fund the council's adult social service to reduce delayed discharges from hospitals through preventative measures, speeding up the process of assessing and agreeing what social care is needed for patients in hospitals or from directly investing in social care packages.