Council denies need for review of roads contract

Conservative-controlled West Berkshire Council has thrown out a request for a review of its highways contract, saying it is doing a good job of maintaining the district’s roads.
Furious Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Woodhams (Thatcham West) demanded a review into the council’s contract wth Volker, after a recent survey placed the district fourth bottom in a league table of 26 similar authorities in terms of resident satisfaction on the condition of the highways.
However, after the two parties clashed at a full council meeting last Thursday, the Conservatives voted against the motion, saying a review wasn’t necessary.
Addressing the meeting, council leader Gordon Lundie (Lambourn) said: “We are performing at average or above average in almost all of the 27 areas on the survey, including perception of road safety, where we are mid-table.
“Mr Woodhams has picked the one area that makes us look bad and is simply fishing for a story.
“We will touch on the contract in March next year, but until then I firmly reject the need for a peer review.
“We are not frightened by peer review, but it is not necessary. I think we have responded well to what has been an exceptionally dificult winter.”
However, the leader of West Berkshire Council’s Liberal Democrat group, Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West) hit back, saying: “Of course you don’t want a review, because everything is fine isn’t it?
“The state of West Berkshire’s roads is just perfect and everything is fine. You are planning to take 40 per cent out of the road safety budget then refuse a free of charge review to improve our highways. It is absolutely ridiculous.”
The council’s executive member for highways and transport, Pamela Bale (Con, Pangbourne) said: “We cover more than 55 per cent of Berkshire’s roads and I think we are doing an awfully good job.”
Councillor Alan Law (Con, Basildon) added: “I live on the border of West Berkshire and I have to say people in the surrounding areas keep saying to me, if only our roads were as good as yours.”
Councillor Marcus Franks (Con, Speen) also praised the council. He said: “I have been very pleased with this council’s performance. In Speen, at least a dozen roads have been sorted.”