It was confirmed at last night’s Highways Joint Members’ Panel, effectively the highways committee covering St Albans District, that under Conservative Party plans the public will lose their right to present petitions to members and officers.

In future, it is likely that petitions will be handed to the local county councillor – probably by e-mail.

Objections to traffic orders will similarly be dealt with behind closed doors or on-line.

Chris White strongly objected to the move: ‘Transparency is a vital part of democracy and this is to be removed. Local residents who want action or wish to object to something will no longer get a public hearing and will have to hope that their county councillor and the relevant highways officials are on the case. If they are not, there will be no recourse other than to organise a fresh petition which will again disappear into thin air.

‘Similarly a county councillor who finds officers are refusing to act won’t be able to get issues debated because the Conservatives plan to do away with the Joint Member Panel. Their only recourse will be contacting the local newspaper.’