It’s clear to us all that the state of our roads is getting worse. Huge floods and ever deeper potholes cause damage to cars and danger to all road users and pavements are not much better. Residents have clearly had enough.
Today County Tories admitted they are overwhelmed by residents complaints – 11,000 in January and close to 8,000 in March – double the seasonal norm.
So Cabinet Member, Joy Denis, for the second time this year has had to pause non-essential activities, including responding to residents’ enquiries!
The Labour Group have highlighted this before – it’s frustrating for drivers AND it’s costing tax payers a fortune.
Residents rightly claim for damage to their vehicles, but only a fraction are being paid by West Sussex County Council. Of 3,657 claims received 3,657 only 504 were settled, with amounts between £13.39 and £19,278. Tax payers litterally forking out for Tory negligence.
Tories have clearly lost control on this. Along with so many other public services from the NHS and Education to Police and Court Services our roads are simply a mess.
And they’re blaming weather events over the past 12 months!
The reason our roads are in such a state is not 12 months of bad weather – it’s 13 years of Tory cuts, underinvestment and mis-management.