County Council 'U' Turn on Romney Marsh Roads
October 1, 2003 12:00 AM
Liberal Democrat County Councillors have finally succeeded in persuading Kent County Council to offer help to residents living on unadopted roads, including those on Romney Marsh.
In March 2003, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Folkestone, Peter Carroll, presented a petition calling on KCC to get Government funding to adopt Romney Marsh roads. Six months later, on 10 September, KCC's Conservative Members of the Highways Advisory Board flatly refused any assistance, and defeated Liberal Democrat calls for further study.
Liberal Democrat County Councillor and Leader of Shepway Council, Linda Cufley, exercised her right to recall the issue before KCC's Scrutiny Committee today (1 October). The petition organiser Mr E Brown spoke movingly of residents with disabilities being confined to their homes, and suffering injury as a result of the poorly maintained roads.
Trudy Dean, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on KCC, gained all party support for her recommendation that KCC consider adopting private roads using resident contributions. Where residents were unable, or unwilling, to pay immediately, the money would be clawed back on the sale of the property. Councillors supported Trudy's call for an approach to Government for help in making this scheme self-funding.
Richard King, Conservative Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, offered KCC advice to help residents' Groups who were experiencing difficulty with unadopted roads.
Linda Cufley said: "The quality of life for residents living in these unadopted roads has become intolerable - particularly for the elderly. Residents have told us they are willing to pay for roads to be adopted, but they need KCC to use it is powers to put a charge on properties, and to lobby Government for extra funds. By bringing this issue to the Scrutiny Committee we have forced KCC to look again at this problem and we are very pleased that all parties have now agreed to explore ways of helping residents."