Surrey’s Conservative administration cover up the true state of the county’s roads

Surrey County Council's Conservative administration is covering up the true state of the County's roads according to the Liberal Democrat opposition at County Hall.

In response to a written question from the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Hazel Watson to today's meeting of the Council asking: "What percentage of Surrey's roads will deteriorate to a standard of poor over the next 5 years?", the Conservative Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment has responded: "Our intention is that 0% of Surrey roads will deteriorate to poor during this period through a combination of the new 5 year major maintenance programme and preventative maintenance on the rest of the network."

Stephen Cooksey, the Liberal Democrat Transport and Environment Spokesperson says: "Just days ago county councillors were told that untreated roads will deteriorate to a standard of 'poor' or 'red' at a rate of 6% per annum, or 300km over 5 years. Now suddenly, when figures are being published in public it is the Conservative administrations 'intention' that 0% of Surrey roads will deteriorate to poor. This is just outrageous spin."

According to figures obtained by Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrat opposition, years of underfunding and poor contract management by Surrey's Conservative administration mean that Surrey's roads will still be worse than the national average in 5 years time.

In 5 years time 12% of Surrey's roads will still be classified as being in "red" or "poor" condition, compared to a national average of 10%.

Liberal Democrat Environment and Transportation Spokesperson Stephen Cooksey said: "As a result of years of Conservative neglect 17%, or 510 miles, of Surrey's roads are classified as 'red'.

"Surrey's poor contract management meant that £10 million a year that could have been invested in Surrey's roads was being wasted under the old highways contract. Liberal Democrats highlighted this in November 2006, but nothing was done, wasting £45 million that could have been spent on Surrey's roads.

"While there has been some improvement in highways investment, still only 68 miles a year of Surrey's worst roads will be treated over the next 5 years, meanwhile other sections of road will be joining the 'red' list, with roads deteriorating at a rate of 6% a year, as revealed at a recent 'workshop' for councillors.

"The end result is that after 5 years, 350 miles, or about one eighth of Surrey's roads, will still be classified as 'red' or 'poor'.

"Surrey's road users have suffered the neglect of the county's roads by the Conservative administration. This is not only a major issue for the safety of Surrey's road users, but Surrey also has the worst figures in the country for damage to vehicles caused by potholes and poor road surfaces.

"Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrats have called for many years for the County's roads maintenance to be improved, we acknowledge there has been a small improvement. But, reading the propaganda coming out from the Conservatives at County Hall anybody would think that they have solved the problems of Surrey's roads when in fact it is all too little, too late."

ENDS

Motion to Full Council 28 November 2006

Mr John Doran (Lib Dem. Horsell) to move under Standing Order 13.1(a) as follows:

That the Council takes note that there are various reports concerning the management of the Surrey Highways Partnership (SHiP) contracts; expresses its dismay at the shocking mismanagement of these contracts leading to waste of taxpayers money. Accordingly, the Council resolves that:

Full copies of the reports investigating the performance of the two highways contractors should be made available to all Councillors.Officers be instructed:

to negotiate an exit to the contracts as the Council no longer has confidence in the contractors to deliver;to renegotiate the contracts with new suppliers to split out major schemes works from local remedial works;to look at the possibility of contracting local works to Boroughs and Districts or other locally managed organisations;to urgently review the management structures inflicted by BDR to see how these can be strengthened to ensure value for money operation of highways contracts andto arrange for an independent audit to be carried out on the management of the contract and the financial arrangements agreed by the officers and the Executive.

The Executive should report back to the Full Council on a quarterly basis until these matters are resolved.

It has no confidence in the Executive Member for Transport and asks her to resign, or if not, for the Leader of the Council to take appropriate action.