JustBeingCP

The minister for Roads and Local Transport, Richard Holden who is also the member of parliament (MP) for North West Durham has written to Cllr John Harrington the cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure at Herefordshire Council.

This follows concerns that I raised with the minister during a meeting on the 7th of March this year with regards to the length of time it took Herefordshire Council to act on my concerns about the counties roads being an accident waiting to happen for those who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

In the letter which is dated the 20th of March 2023 the minister reminded Cllr Harrington that Herefordshire Council have to adhere to the 1984 Road Traffic Act legislation in particular section 122.

The minister goes onto remind Cllr John Harrington that traffic includes pedestrians (those who use mobility aids are included with in this) as well as vehicles.

Cllr Harrington was also reminded by the government minister that the local authority in Herefordshire have a duty under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network across Herefordshire and this does include our network of pavements.

He was given this reminder in relation to the letter that I sent him on the Friday the 20th of January this year urging him to add the gritting of the counties pavement network to our winter operations plan.

Councillor Harrington and Herefordshire Council were also reminded of the ‘Inclusive Mobility good practice guidance which was updated last year to include a section with advice covering dropped kerbs for new road infrastructure.

He was also reminded that the Department for Transport (DFT) encourage good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as the ‘Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure.

This is a code of practice that has been produced by the UK Roads Leadership Group and recommends that authorities put in place an inspection regime for the highway network that is under their care.

I am delighted that I have been able to hold Herefordshire Council and the cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure to account with regards to the length of time that it took them to act on the concerns that I first raised in 2018.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Department for Transport (DFT) and the Roads Minister, Richard Holden and for that I am incredibly grateful to them.

This result doesn’t however change the fact that I believe it is a sheer miracle that nobody was seriously injured or killed in the time that it has taken Herefordshire Council to act on my concerns and install a number of new dropped kerbs.

I would like to place on record my thanks to the Roads Minister and Department for Transport (DFT) for taking all of the concerns that I raised seriously.

I also believe that I shouldn’t have had to campaign for the last 4 years in order to get these much needed dropped kerbs for those who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking aids in Herefordshire.

I look forward to sharing Herefordshire councils response to the government with you, as soon as I have received it and had a time to digest its contents.

I am excited that I can now bring my four year campaign to an end now that I have the result the campaign was designed to deliver.

I know that this is a boring blog that has been released in quick succession to my last one but I felt that it is necessary to share my thoughts about the ministers letter to Herefordshire Council now that I have had time to digest its contents.

I would to end in my normal way by taking the opportunity to thank all of my readers and followers for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest blog.

Cam