Highways havoc

7.27.00pm GMT Thu 18th Dec 2008

Conservative-run Hertfordshire County Council have found they have a shortfall of over half a million pounds, after the reorganisation of their highways division. This shortfall will directly affect the service provided by the department to the public.

Worryingly, no local county councillors were informed of this mismanagement. The facts only became clear after Liberal Democrat councillors made inquires, following contact from front line highways staff. Highways officers have been told to reapply for their own jobs.

County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: "This smacks of total ineptitude. The Conservative run county council seems to be reorganising for the sake of it. It is very worrying that experienced officers have to reapply for their own jobs. I am seriously concerned as to what impact this will have on service delivery.

"We were already concerned about the redundancies in front line delivery and the top heavy structure - this will make matters worse."