Liberal Democrat budget - roads

Speech by Cllr Roz Smith delivered to County Council on Tue 10th Feb 2009

Highways are facing a bleak future with construction inflation costs at 12% and rising. The County Conservative administration has failed over the last few years to adequately fund road maintenance. The number of potholes and roads with uneven surfaces is increasing year on year.

The Liberal Democrat budget therefore increases the budget for maintenance of roads, pavements and cycleways by over £500,000 and allocates an additional £100,000 to pedestrian crossings. This is paid for by reintroducing the parking charges for on-street parking in the centre of Oxford in the evenings and on Sundays, to reduce the amount of congestion in the City centre and to encourage parking at the free Park and Ride sites.