Resurfacing the Roads in West Berkshire?

11.56.39am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th May 2009

Residents are becoming increasingly angry at the Conservatives lackadaisical attitude to maintaining West Berkshires highways. The district's road surfaces are now turning into a slalom course with vehicles steering cautiously to avoid being caught up in dangerous holes and troughs. Why are we repeatedly paying out thousands of pounds for patching the roads, surely this cannot be a cost effective or economical way of improving our road network?

Where is the inspection taking place? Contractors are digging up roads and leaving the reinstatement in a parlous state too.

For the 12 month period commencing 1 April 2008 the Council received 29 reports of potholes, 11 reports on road conditions and 13 third party claims on the road network serving the Parish of Bucklebury alone!

Whilst residents pick up the cost of repairs to their vehicles and cycles, the Conservatives are holding back the surplus of tax payers' money to keep council tax down at the next district elections.

The next meeting where highways issues will be debated is at the Parish / District Conference on Wednesday 27 May, hosted by the Conservatives. The Conservatives have not invited the public to this meeting and have abolished the Public Area Forums where residents used to meet their local councillors and officers to air their views about such matters.

What action will the Executive Member for Highways & Transport take to sort out the unacceptable condition of our roads and when will he give the council tax payers of West Berkshire, value for money?