Cavendish Road and and Albion Road faded signs: these are still not replaced despite promises two years ago. I am told that they have been ordered (I was told this two years ago too).
St John’s Court: the pavements should have been repaired by now but the National Grid got in and dug everything up. They are planning to go back at some point. Herts Highways are awaiting confirmation that the National Grid works are over and anticipate that the pavements will be done in the summer.
Ridgmont Road: both carriageway and footway are disintegrating. I understand that footway repairs are due to take place on the east side which is clearly worse. No date has been given.
What’s happening with ‘City Vision’
I have been asked a number of times about City Vision, St Peter’s Street traffic and the future of Aboyne Lodge School.
Just to emphasise, the City Vision is only in initial stages and further public consultation will follow; there are no proposals to close St Peter’s Street to traffic (but this is anyway up to the public); and there are no proposals to close Aboyne Lodge School. On the contrary the school could be expanded in size – although I will continue to press for a new primary school in the city centre anyway.
The following press release was issued yesterday by the District Council
New transport measures to tackle congestion win public support
A city for cyclists, pedestrians and buses has won public support following an exhibition that looks at how St Albans can thrive in the future.
Over 1,500 residents viewed the draft City Vision and explored new ideas and proposals for integrated living for 2030. The aim of the vision is to cover the social, cultural and economic development of the city over the coming decades along with a spatial framework which can support positive development.
Cllr Melvyn Teare, Cabinet portfolio holder responsible for the City Vision project said, “I am impressed with the enthusiasm and wide range of comments the City Vision has prompted so far. ”
More consultation will follow in September to investigate detailed proposals for various ways to reduce congestion in St Peter’s Street.
There will also be more detailed master planning of key sites, including the Aboyne Lodge/ Drovers Way area. This will investigate either retaining or relocating the primary school as part of a wider redevelopment proposal to include specialist shops and could include new food and department stores.
A small scale cinema development won backing from the public as a potential jewel in the heart of a new Civic Centre area, which is marked for substantial redevelopment as a central cultural hub. The area could also include a hotel, some retailing and a civic square.
Consultees rejected the need for any more new flats in the city centre and backed the need for more affordable family homes. Masterplanning will set out residential requirements for each new development with clear guidelines to manage scale and community infrastructure requirements, such as new school places required.
A meeting of the St Albans District Council Cabinet (May 5) endorsed the direction of the vision which will now move to the next stage to incorporate master planning of key sites; development of detailed strategies and preparation of a delivery and implementation plan.
A further report will be presented to Cabinet in October 09 after detailing the final version of the proposed Master Plan.
Integrated living for 2030: a creative, sustainable and pioneering city for all which values the past and embraces the future.
Notes for editors
Funding of £150,000 was successfully secured under the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government Growth Area Fund.
St Albans City and District is designated a growth area with 7, 200 new homes to accommodate by 2012.
The City and Rural Visions are contributing to the evolving Local Development Framework (LDF) on which we will be working with residents from June 2009. The Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) sets out the vision and ambitions for the area regarding attractiveness; good health and an active community. It also sets the directions for plans to guide development over the next 20 years contained in the LDF.
All consultation results and background papers are available online at: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/press-room/items/2008/pr-2008-october/pr-city-vision.aspx
Further problem areas notified to Herts Highways
Woodstock Road North footways: the local highways team has applied for footway resurfacing funding from county hall. I have also pointed out the deteriorating state of the carriageway.
Woodstock Road South: I have again pressed for major repairs and have yet to get a positive answer. The temporary repairs which have just appeared are woefully inadequate.
Worley Road: accelerating deterioration (I have reported two potholes in the last week alone). I have been promised that it will be totally resurfaced ‘this year’ but have not been given a definite date
Fix 1 – EXPOSED: 7% CUT IN COUNTY HIGHWAYS EXPENDITURE IN ST ALBANS
Chris White and Sandy Walkington – campaigning on roads
This week Liberal Democrat Group Leader Chris White (St Albans Central) has exposed a hidden 7% cut in highways expenditure planned for St Albans.
In documents not normally made public the Liberal Democrats have found that the County Council has cut its non urgent highways repairs budget, known as Category
2, by over half a million pounds (£568,749) – some 5% against what it
spent last year.
This money is spent on major resurfacing schemes costing less than
£30,000, drainage, road marking renewals, signage, tree maintenance
and kerbing repairs.
Hidden within the figures is a 7% cut for St Albans which will lose £89,000 – on an overall budget now of £1.1 million.
Further examination of the figures has shown that each of the three Liberal
Democrat run district councils (Watford, Three Rivers and St Albans) and the sole Labour authority (Stevenage) in Hertfordshire have all had budget cuts while a number of the Conservative run areas get increases, such as Dacorum
with an extra 10%, taking its spend to £1.3million.
Chris White said: “The Tories claim they are spending extra on highways. If that is the case why are they cutting the amount spent on the works that residents want to see delivered by local highways teams?
“No wonder they are pretending it is the Lib Dems who have planned cuts – they are clearly deeply afraid of residents’ anger.”
Allowances and expenses of members of the county council
In the link below are the allowances and expenses paid to members of the county council.
Minutes of public meeting on secondary school places now available
So: who is in charge of our roads and pavements?
Commentary
This week’s ‘Review’ contains a remarkable statement from the Conservative councillor who is paid to be in charge of our roads and pavements: ‘Decisions on the highways repair programme are made by highways officers without any political input whatsoever.’
So what Cllr Stuart Pile for? He is paid £30,000 a year for this plum political job and yet claims to have no role in exercising its functions.
The cost of potholes: £30,000 a year for County Councillor Pile not to have an input
The truth, of course, is that he does have a role in all decisions exercised by the county council’s Environment Department. He may choose not to intervene. In the case of the surface dressing scandal he chose not to intervene and so chose not to say that the millions being wasted on unneeded surface dressing of rural roads should be spent instead on those rather obvious urban roads which are now falling to pieces. A decision not to take action is still a decision for which he must carry the can.
If he is not willing to intervene to ensure that our money is spent where it should be then he should step aside for someone who is.
Further matters reported to Herts Highways
Grimston Road: Blue block pavements very uneven
Strong sewage smell at top of Holywell Hill. There appears to be foul water leaking towards the top of the hill.
Give way lines at the bottom of Worley Road and Church Crescent: could be clearer
Dickens Close: loose paving slabs
In addition I have reported two new potholes in Worley Road: this road was ‘repaired’ last year by Herts Highways but poorly. We were promised a full resurface but I have not been given a date. I will be talking direct to Herts Highways about this and other matters on Monday.
Six to Fix: see our campaign video!
The Liberal Democrat election video for the county council elections in Hertfordshire is now available on line.
Chequer Street to close towards end of May for 3 days
Official notice from the county council
TEMPORARY CLOSING OF A1081 CHEQUER STREET, ST ALBANS
NOTICE is given that the Hertfordshire County Council intend to make an Order under Section 14[1] of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all traffic from using that length of A1081 Chequer Street, St Albans from its junction with A1081 London Road north eastwards to its junction with B691 Victoria Street, a distance of approximately 173 metres, except for access.
The alternative route for traffic will be via:-
A1081 St Peters Street, A1057 Hatfield Road, Beaconsfield Road, B6424 Alma Road and A1081 London Road
Or alternatively via:
A1081 London Road, Marlborough Road and B691 Victoria Street
The purpose of the Order is to enable essential sewerage repair works beneath the carriageway to take place.
It is anticipated that the section of road will be closed for up to 3 days, sometime during the period 24 May 2009 and 26 May 2009, when signs are in place.