LIB DEMS FINALLY SECURE MORE SPENDING ON PAVEMENT REPAIRS

10.52.23am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th May 2007

After years of pressure, Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have succeeded in pushing the Conservative administration into spending more money on pavement repairs. This year the Lib Dems recommended an extra £3m spend, but it was voted down by the Conservative administration who said the funding was not necessary. In a spectacular U-turn the Conservatives have now conceded that the money must be spent.

At a meeting of the county council cabinet in Chelmsford yesterday (15 May), a proposal to increase spending on footways maintenance by £6.5m over the next two years was agreed - as well as extra funding for Harlow's pavements. At the cabinet meeting Lib Dem leader, Tom Smith-Hughes said:

"I can't resist pointing out that my Group has been proposing such a cash injection to start dealing with the unacceptable state of pavements in the county for some years. Until now we have been told this was not necessary. I am glad that the Conservative administration is at last beginning to recognise the serious problem of not properly maintaining pavements, the unsatisfactory state of which the residents in Essex have had to experience for far too long."

ENDS