Streets Of Shame In Putnoe (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Streets Of Shame In Putnoe

April 6, 2004 2:54 PM

Local borough Councillor Myrtle Stewardson is naming and shaming local roads that she believes have been abandoned by Bedfordshire County Council.

Road Improvement Campaigner Myrtle is back on the road again assessing the damage recent cold spells have caused to local streets. Myrtle has previously written to the Secretary of State for Transport, regional transport bodies, the boroughs three local M.P.s and a number of County Council officers in an effort to see damaged roads in the area improved. Now Myrtle hopes her latest list compiled following recent cold snaps will jolt the County Council into action.

This year the County Council will again receive over £4million to improve local roads and bridges but with the whole county to be covered by this, areas in Bedford are being left short when it comes to the repairs. In 2002 the Audit Commission criticised the County Council over local dissatisfaction with the state of its highways

Myrtle commented

"It is outrageous. Bedfordshire County Council are expecting road users to put with an antique road network and pick up the costs when there vehicles are damaged. Some of the roads haven't been resurfaced in over half a century so it's no wonder they are in such a state. I've contacted the Transport Secretary, the regional planning body, the three borough MP's and a number of County Council officers to get some improvement. It is in the remit of the County Council to make sure roads are repaired but every year we seem to miss out. The Audit Commission report found that they were failing local residents on the roads but they just don't seem willing to improve. This year the County Council will again receive over £4million to improve roads and Bridges in the Bedfordshire. Unless these roads are properly resurfaced they will just continue to get worse and worse until someone has a serious accident. I've already been contacted by local residents who have attributed damage to their vehicles to the road conditions. This just isn't on. Previously I identified at least 27 roads in Putnoe alone that are in urgent need of improvement just to make them safe. This year I'm completing a similar "streets of shame list". Already this list is showing even more roads that can't just be ignored.

Every year the County Council increases our council tax but it seems less and less is done to improve the roads. I am demanding that this year they sit up and take notice. ."

ENDS