Launched today (10 May), the new business has been dubbed ‘Via’ – the Latin word for road – and will become operational in July, under a 10-year contract, extendable for a further five years.

The new company will be owned by the public sector and will also be able to trade commercially to gain work of up to 20% of its turnover.

Via will be supported by CORSERV, part of CORMAC, Cornwall Council’s arms-length highways company, last May.

“As far as residents are concerned, the new company will continue to provide an excellent service in terms of the way work is carried out on Nottinghamshire roads and they should continue to contact the County Council direct with highways issues,” said Councillor Alan Rhodes, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.

“Via provides us with an opportunity to safeguard the continued delivery of a quality highways service for Nottinghamshire well into the future. It will help us to ensure continued improvement against a backdrop of ever-increasing demand on our services.”

Adam Paynter, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for both Cornwall Council and Nottinghamshire County Council and is a reciprocal relationship which will see both authorities learning from each other and sharing knowledge and experience.

“Not only will the launch of the new company create new jobs in both Cornwall and Nottinghamshire, it will also bring additional revenue back into both councils.”