This is the first of a column which will appear weekly from now on. It is simply a list of broken promises – cases where Herts Highways (the highways bit of the Tory controlled county council) have promised something to elected members or to the public and then have gone back on their word. I suspect the list will be added to. I hope, however, that it will be reduced to nothing and I am meeting the Chief Executive on Monday to try and arrange just that.

BROKEN PROMISE 1:

Lemsford Road: resurfacing was repeatedly promised and I even checked the text of a letter I sent to local residents confirming that it would be done two years ago. Last year I was given further reassurances but am now told that it is on hold awaiting the end of building works.

BROKEN PROMISE 2:

I was assured that there would be additional markings on Holywell Hill to warn motorists of the pelican crossing – something which is not so obvious among all the usual street clutter. I have been told that ‘safety officers have decided’ that they are not needed.

BROKEN PROMISE 3:

Years ago I was promised that the various faded and illegible signs in Cecil Road would be replaced by new ones. Year after year this simple task is not done or even started.

BROKEN PROMISE 4:

I was given cast iron assurances that the failure to ensure that the pedestrian lights on the High Street were in sync with the Peahen lights would be rectified. That was more than two years ago.

BROKEN PROMISE 5:

I was told that the pavements in St John’s Court would be replaced. Nothing happened until over a year after I had passed this promise on to residents. The situation today is that still only a tiny fraction has been done.