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Published:
February 19, 2009
Burnham-On-Sea
MP's anger over 'highways robbery'
 Burnham-On-Sea's
MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, has this week criticised Somerset County
Council for slashing its highways budget by £1.25m as part
of a cost-cutting move.
The
MP said after Wednesday's decision: "Somerset County council
received an extra nine per cent grant from the Government for
the current year. It is inexplicable that they are now cutting
essential expenditure on highways."
"Motorists
are paying more and more in taxes and getting less and less back.
In Somerset there is already a huge backlog of road maintenance
and also many essential safety improvements which will now be
shelved."
Ken
Maddock, leader of the Conservatives at County Hall, joined Mr
Heathcoat-Amory in condemning the County Council's decision.
"This
is outrageous, motorists and taxpayers are being penalised yet
again. Throughout the course of history, it has not been an unusual
occurrence for members of the public to be robbed whilst travelling
on Britain’s roads. However, in this case the highwaymen
are unable to hide behind a mask, so at least the public will
know to whom they can attribute the blame."
The
plan to slash the highways budget for 2009/10 and become permanent
thereafter, was ratified at a full council meeting at County Hall
Taunton on Wednesday 18th February 2009.
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