Continuing pressure over state of the roads (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Continuing pressure over state of the roads

9:13am Thursday 9th July 2009

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I share the disappointment of so many local people at the news that the Conservative Council has provided just £63,000 for road and pavement repairs in Prestwich this year.

This is nowhere near enough to deal with our crumbling roads and pavements. In fact, a list of the 13 most damaged roads in Prestwich has been produced, and total repairs for just these streets would cost over £700,000.

The Tories seem intent on fobbing Prestwich off with less than 10 per cent of the amount needed to fix the problem.

At the same time as this neglect of our roads, I have discovered that the council has paid out over £2m in compensation to victims of trips and falls on local roads in the past few years.

If we spent that amount actually fixing the roads, rather than waiting for people to injure themselves on them and then paying out in compensation, we would see massive improvements. Sadly the Tories are thinking differently, if indeed they are thinking at all.

Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for a proper solution to this growing problem, which is both dangerous and a massive drain on public money.

We have called for real action, not continuing neglect.

The Tories at the town hall don’t seem to be listening, but we will continue to pressure them to take action to improve Prestwich roads.

Cllr Andrew Garner Sedgley Ward

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