A £7.2MILLION investment in Renfrewshire’s road network has been slammed for neglecting a village community.

Howwood is the only town or village not to be included in the programme set out by Renfrewshire Council as it tries to battle a pothole epidemic that has affected every community in the area.

More than 80 roads are to undergo a major transformation as part of the biggest annual investment in the network.

Councillor Derek Bibby said the plan made “grim reading” for Howwood residents and insisted the village’s Main Street and the Beith Road should be on the programme.

He said: “The community council and Howwood residents are rightly very angry that the village, which pays its fair share of council tax, is not getting its fair share of resources.

“They have tasked all elected ward councillors to get roads such as Main Street and Beith Road on to the programme.

“I have written to Councillor Cathy McEwan urging her to add Howwood to the programme and have reminded her the administration promised to fix the roads. That will have a hollow ring to it for the people of Howwood.

“I will continue to press for this unfairness to be rectified.”

Ms McEwan, infrastructure and environment boss, has previously said the programme is designed to ensure “every community sees a benefit in their area” and also includes work on nearly 50 footpaths.

Mr Bibby has also said Johnstone is not getting its fair share of works, with repairs taking place on only seven roads compared to nearly five times that amount in Paisley. 

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “An extensive examination of the network has allowed the roads most in need of repair to be prioritised, which will ensure a recognisable and long-lasting benefit to the quality of our roads.

“While not in immediate need of full resurfacing, roads such as Midton Road in Howwood will be surface dressed as part of the programme.”