Herts County Council has come under fire for playing down Sunday and Monday’s storm warnings and claiming “Hertfordshire was going to miss the worst effects of the storm” – so they did not bother to issue any advice.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Central Watford and Oxhey) hit out: “The County’s well staffed press and publicity machine sends out hundreds of press releases every week, but issued not one storm warning or any advice to residents about storm St Jude. With roads blocked, power lines down, and untold damage to homes and property it seems that the Tories over-staffed  PR machine just sat on its hands and idly watched events unfold.

“When every other council in Herts was issuing  advice to residents about staying safe and  how to protect themselves and their property, Herts County Council which is supposed to keep our roads open, did nothing.

“It beggars belief that all they did is put up some storm  warning messages on its traffic signs, no advice  about what to do with blocked roads or fallen debris. This again calls into question why have over 20 staff at County Hall dealing with the press and media when they cannot even get a single piece of advice out to residents or update their web pages until its all over!” said Stephen.