Leicestershire Lib Dems respond to public concerns over backlog of road maintenance, flooding and blocked drains

Liberal Democrats on Leicestershire County Council will be proposing an amendment to the County Council's budget on Wednesday which seeks to put back a cut over £1m to highways maintenance being implemented by the Conservative Administration. The Liberal Democrat opposition group on the Council acknowledges that these are difficult times for local government but believes that it makes no sense to cut road maintenance at a time when the severe weather conditions during 2012 have created a backlog of pot holes and blocked road drains.

Cllr Bill Boulter said, "Since the Conservatives relaxed the policy on the time it takes to fill pot holes and clean highway drains there has been a marked increase in the number of complaints I have received from local residents in South Wigston. By agreeing that highway defects other than those which require an urgent response can be left for up to 90 days the Conservatives appear to have adopted an approach based on the managed decline of the County's highway network. Even within the present financial constraints, we believe that we can do a better job for the people of Leicestershire.

At a time when the Council is still predicted to have reserves of £99m in the bank and will underspend the current budget by around £4m we will be proposing a small amount of this money is used to tackle the backlog of road maintenance during the next 12 months. Furthermore if the underspends continue this year we will urge the Council to do the same in the next budget until we fix the mess the Conservatives have made of our roads and pavements."