Highways - on the road again

 

If the increase in traffic in recent weeks is any indication, in the words of the Willie Nelson song, we are all ‘On The Road Again’.  

In the wake of the devastating impact of the pandemic, with some travel restrictions still in place, it is fantastic that by being forced to explore our own country, we are appreciating what a wonderful place we live in. 

However, as with all things, there are drawbacks. Living in Combe St. Nicholas I am resigned to allowing extra time to exit onto to the A303, particularly at weekends, and the traffic jams at the Southfields roundabout in Ilminster are legendary. Naturally, it is not drivers, or their bad behaviour, that are seen to be at fault. It must surely be Highways who are responsible for the blight on our precious landscape; those nameless, non-responsive individuals who fail to fix our potholes, impose speed limits, clear overgrown hedges, clean up rubbish, unblock our drains, causing flooding, or provide dropped kerbs. dsabled parking spaces and visibility aids at junctions.

Some years ago, I was hauled over the coals, and my wrists severely slapped, by the officer responsible for Highways at Somerset County Council for an adverse remark I made in public. She rightly felt obliged to defend her team in the face of criticism, but at the time I meant it.  

We expect much of our Highways teams, particularly when it comes to responding to planning application consultations, where the comment ‘standing advice applies’ cuts no mustard with local parishes, especially where there is some reliance on highways issues in objecting to unwelcome new developments.

What we must remember though is that amidst the cries for a freeze on council tax rises, along with the increased demand for what are perceived to be more important services, such as social services and education, resources for services such as Highways have been cut to the bare bone. We have only ourselves to blame. I have for some time argued that we must decide what levels of service we want local authorities to provide, and then pay for it.

As an elected member, much of my daily email inbox is taken up with highways issues; residents ranting and raving about what on the surface are minor issues, but which can have a big impact on their personal lives. I get this, but I do take issue with the tone and content of some correspondence. In my experience, and I am known to be abrasive, one is more likely to get a positive response if one can take the emotion out of an issue and seek to work together to resolve the problem. Our highways teams have limited capacity, and limited resources to work the miracles required to make our roads safer, quieter, cleaner and more accessible. I know from my own experience that, with few exceptions, whenever I have needed a rapid response, they have done their best to comply.