Hertfordshire County Councillors

County Council comments from Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

My prime concern has always been to get the best deal for residents in Central Watford and Oxhey and then for Watford and for other county residents.

My involvement in the county has focused on environment issues and in particular traffic and highways issues. That is not surprising as South West Herts is the most congested part of the county. I am pleased that pressure and working with others has achieved some positive improvements in the local environment including several new pedestrians crossings that might not have happened.

As residents may know I have been particularly critical of the performance of many aspects of Herts Highways and its contractors as well as the electric supply company EDF. EDF still has a poor record in sorting out effective lights especially in Watford.

In my new role as the Chairman of the Environment Scrutiny Committee (the opposition have taken two chairs each of these scrutiny committees) I am keen to ensure important aspect of Herts Highways are scrutinised and if need be brought to account. At present I chairing meetings investigating the massive "overspend" on the St Albans Town Centre Highways scheme (from its original £1.8m to now over £5m). What is particularly pleasing is that all parties on this group are asking very hard and probing questions of how this has been allowed this occur. This is the first such scrutiny under the new arrangements set up by the County Council in May I hope we will come out with positive recommendations for improvements to service delivery that will be of real benefit to all of Hertfordshire residents.

In the meantime I would welcome comments and views from residents not just in Watford but across the county on how the environment department and in particular Herts Highways is performing.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Navigate back to...

• « Stephen Giles-Medhurst