Hertfordshire County Councillors

A message from Stephen

It seems a while since I posted anything on my web pages mainly because both my job and political activity have kept me busy.

There is still the on going dispute within the fire service over reduction in the number of fire appliances. As those who know me and my views, I and other opposition councillors have vigorously opposed these reductions and still do. The administration has indicated a change of mind as regards the Watford reduction and I hope that an end to the current dispute with the FBU who have organised strike action can be resolved with an agreement.

Another major issue of concern is the plan to cut free transport for those pupils that attend Hertfordshire faith schools. This move, which was announced during the recent local election campaign, took us most by surprise. Following a rather heated question and answer exchange with cabinet members at the normally ceremonial Annual Council Meeting the administration has announced a special council meeting on 18th July to debate this hot topic. What concerns me, irrespective of one’s views on faith schools, is the environmental and congestion effect of such a move. Surely as in London we should be moving the other way and providing free travel for ALL pupils who live more than a few miles from a school. We already know how congested our roads are at school opening times and how much easier it is during the summer months. To force parents either to pay an extra £1000 a year for transport or take their children to school using their own cars cannot be right. I am pleased that my request for a full report on this issue i.e. the congestion effects is coming before the next Highways and Transport Panel on July 6th. Interestingly all nine Conservative MPs in Hertfordshire have written objecting to the plan.

On more local issues in Watford the recent months have seen Herts Highways admit that two traffic regulations orders in place, which residents thought legal for years were not. One, a yellow line restriction in a 20 mph zone on the Radlett Road Estate and the other a banned left turn at Lower High Street. The problems of Herts Highways never cease to amaze me and despite changes of staff and procedures there are still mistakes like this.

I have also called for a report on poor grass cutting undertaken by the county and that is coming before the Environment Scrutiny Committee, which I chair, on 20th June. The afternoon of that meeting is now being set aside to hear about the water difficulties that Herts residents face and we have called on the major water companies to explain what they are doing. Members of the public are most welcome to attend.