HAVE HOO ROAD'S RESIDENTS BEEN SHORT-CHANGED?

4.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 12th Oct 2008

After a five year wait and pressure from Cllrs Helen and Peter Dyke, local residents, the media and me, the County Council has finally announced the traffic calming measures for Hoo Road. Just weeks before the deadline to lose the money set aside by the developers of the old college site, the highways department is to spend it installing a Pelican crossing outside Aggborough stadium and a couple of "Slow Down" signs by the railway bridge. If I lived on Hoo Road, I would feel pretty short-changed by this. To echo the language of our local Tory County Councillor, Stephen Clee, this is pathetic!

The county has rejected installing vehicle-triggered flashing signs either side of the railway bridge blind spot or correcting the dangerously skewed Primrose Way roundabout. They say the £80,000 cost of the announced works uses up the entire budget. Really? What happened to the £100,000 they originally quoted? Moreover, if that's all they had, how on earth was the council going to pay for the extravagant assault course of roundabouts, crossings, chicanes and street furniture they presented to appalled residents last November?

Numerous locals have complained to me that the original plans were intended to make residents forget the whole scheme and save the council any effort. I find that hard to believe but it does beg the question, does the County Council really care?

This month the County Council has been publicising its review of the use of vehicle triggered signs to slow speeding vehicles. If anywhere needs such measures it's the potential death trap of the approach to either side of the railway bridge. Why has Hoo Road missed out on this opportunity, especially as the council wouldn't have to pay for it?

What are your views? Let us know.

Neville Farmer

Wyre Forest Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman

Contact Number: 07966 150444