It's Official- Tories Fail Essex on Roads and Footpaths

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 24th Apr 2005

Lib Dem proposing a properly programmed schedule of road and pavement repairs and an end to the road patching strategy.

Roads and footpaths in Essex are amongst the worst in the country- and that's official. A report presented to the Essex County Council cabinet shows that the condition of roads and footpaths across the county are in the bottom section of the government's targets for performance.

Janet Whitehouse, Liberal Democrat County Council Candidate for Epping and Theydon Bois, said, "The residents of Essex know only too well that the roads and footpaths are in an appalling state- now the government is aware of it too. Despite consistent warnings from the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative-run administration of Essex county Council has allowed our roads and highways to deteriorate to atrocious levels.

Over the last four years, the Tories have not been able to come up with any effective maintenance plan and the inevitable result is the disgraceful situation we now find ourselves in. Only now are the Tories planning on putting more money into maintaining roads and footpaths, but it will now take much more money than should have been necessary because of the lack of any meaningful maintenance plan. It is yet another example of the arrogance with which the Otis spend taxpayers money."

Outlining his party's alternative proposal, councillor Michael Havens, Leader of the Epping Forest's Liberal Democrats and Lib Dem Westminster hopeful said, "We believe that Epping Forest's roads are the most neglected in Essex. Councillor Rodney Bass, the Tory County Cabinet Member for Highways, has decided to end District Highway agencies and centralise the service. We think that will make matters even worse."