Warwickshire County Council intends to permanently retain street lighting put up to facilitate HS2 works on a rural B road that crosses the line.

The highways authority is to spend £500,000 of HS2 road safety funding to keep the lighting on Fosse Way to the east of Leamington Spa and south-west near Offchurch.

The temporary lighting was put up by HS2 earlier this year as part of the Fosse Way overbridge construction alongside road resurfacing, extra drainage and utilities diversions.

The plans have been put forward to spend the last portion of an £8 million-plus pot of Department for Transport (DfT) funding by the end of 2026 – the initial deadline.

The county's report acknowledges the work cannot be completed by then but says it is "seeking agreement" with HS2, the body responsible for the funding, to agree to an extension because completing the job now would clash with work on the new rail route.

The money can only be used on schemes that meet the criteria of "leaving a legacy of road safety improvements" with the council stating: "Retention of this asset on a permanent basis will deliver a road safety benefit on the Fosse Way well beyond the construction phase of HS2."

Some 37 projects have been funded to date with the remaining £3.3 million set to be used on this, improvement works at the A446 junction of Birmingham Road and Stonebridge Road, Coleshill and potentially other smaller scale projects recommended by county councillors.

The plans are due to be signed off by deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance and property Cllr Stephen Shawon Friday (21 November).

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