Council consulting on cuts: “We could reduce the current standards” of highway maintenance

A “lowering of the standard of road repairs” could take place in Wrexham as the local authority looks to the public for feedback on how it could make further savings.

On Friday we reported how the latest budget consultation features Wrexham Council stating that the “time has come for us to introduce three-weekly collections for your black/blue bins” and yesterday how prices at council owned car parks could increase.

Today we are highlighting another section in the new Difficult Decisions consultation, which sees the council say that “given the financial position we’re in, we feel we have no choice” but to review current standards for highway maintenance, grounds maintenance and Public Rights of Way.

The proposed review could save approximately £374,000, against an estimated £5.4 million of savings next year – and potentially as much as £7.2 million in 2019-20.

An explainer in the consultation, states: “We think that we could reduce the current standards which we currently deliver in each of these areas.

“This would inevitably have an impact on the quality of our roads, the upkeep of areas such as parks and grass verges, and on the condition of some of our footpaths, bridleways and byways.”

“We would work with local communities to ensure that, where possible, the plans we develop would be positive for biodiversity and the local environment. However, given the financial position we are in, we believe this could make a valuable contribution to reducing our costs.”

For those of you taking part in the consultation you are given two chances in the section to offer your thoughts.

The council ask you for alternative suggestions about highway maintenance, grounds maintenance and Public Rights of Way which you would like them to consider. The second question asks if the proposal ‘will impact on your life in any way’, as the council would like to consider such impacts ‘when implementing our decisions’.

Councillor Hugh Jones, who has lead responsibility for the consultation, says: “Even though we don’t think we’ll have much choice but to make these proposed cuts, we’d like to know what people think and give everyone a chance to put forward other ideas.

“It’s really important we understand how people feel about these proposals, and it only takes a few minutes to fill-in the questionnaire, so please take part.”

You can take part in the ‘Difficult Decisions’ consultation on the YourVoiceWrexham website until January 1st 2020.

Top pic: An example of council maintenance of a sometimes publicly accessible space used for car parking and walk through.