Tag: Transport

Conservatives are promising fantasy money for highways – Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis?

Conservatives are promising fantasy money for highways – Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis?

The Conservatives have promised an extra £40 million for highways if they are re-elected. At a committee meeting early in the month, council officers confirmed that this money could not be found within the planned budget but will have to come from grants, extra government funding, cuts to other budgets and the council’s diminishing reserves. The £40 million is fantasy money, not a commitment. The Conservatives have cut £10 million from the highways budget over the last two years. They have been able to make up a bit of ground through one off government grants for potholes and to repair highways after severe weather. But the road network is so decayed in many areas, especially rural roads, the council is not managing catchup. Perhaps it is time to change the county’s motto from Floreat Salopia to Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis. (Please excuse my cod Latin. Corrections welcome in the comments!)

I was appalled by the Conservatives disrupting an ‘independent’ scrutiny meeting to announce their highways manifesto

Why are the Tories running so scared on highways that they need to leak their own manifesto? But that was what happened in a scrutiny committee today. In breach of every understanding of how ‘independent’ scrutiny committees work, the deputy leader of the council launched the Tory manifesto for highways mid meeting. We are of course gearing up for elections in May. But manifestos are not council business. The Conservatives don’t understand that. Today was appalling and at least two formal complaints have been lodged. But why are the Tories so scared they needed to launch their highways manifesto in a fairly obscure meeting?

Road safety scheme outside Sandpits school to be installed before the summer – we need more safety schemes

Road safety scheme outside Sandpits school to be installed before the summer – we need more safety schemes

The long awaited safety scheme outside Ludlow Primary School will go ahead before the summer. Installation of a raised table outside the school comes after a campaign by school governors and local Shropshire Councillor Tracey Huffer. We don’t have a date for the work yet but it is expected to begin immediately after Cadent, the gas infrastructure provider, vacates the site around Easter. That means the safety scheme, which includes new signage and the raised table, will be in place before the summer. We need other school safety schemes on Old Street and Bromfield Road.

Update on Highways Winter Maintenance from Shropshire Council

Update on Highways Winter Maintenance from Shropshire Council

Town and parish councils have been updated on highways maintenance ahead of yet another cold snap. The Shropshire Council’s current policy is to grit 29% of the defined highway network. The winter weather has led to an increase in demand on highways resources. and is increasing damage to the road network including more potholes. More out of hours staff have been made available.

It’s time to join up the dots on transport in Ludlow and make it work now and for the future

It’s time to join up the dots on transport in Ludlow and make it work now and for the future

When I walk through the centre of Ludlow, I get tackled on all manner of issues but mostly transport. Road closures. Parking. Buses. These problems are not just confined to the town centre. We live in a town that was not designed for current levels of car ownership. We need to take concerted action to ease the problems. That’s not the only problem we must tackle. Ludlow is a green thinking town. The town council has declared a climate emergency as has Shropshire Council and much of the country. The UN General Secretary yesterday called on all the countries of the world to declare a climate emergency. A sustainable transport for Ludlow is overdue and 2021 is the year in which we must complete it.

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