The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservative county council controlled Herts Highways department as ‘unbelievably inefficient’, following the publication of comparative cost figures in a key county council document. In the 300 page ‘Integrated plan reports’ the cost per kilometre of road maintenance is £12,643 for Hertfordshire and just £6,971 for the ‘family average’ of other similar athorities. 

Lib Dem Leader Chris White said: ‘This vindicates what we have been saying all along – namely that Herts Highways, a partnership between the council and the private sector, is delivering very poor value. Most residents would entirely agree.’ He added: ‘The county council’s excuse is that the roads are 35% busier than the national average. But of course the cost difference is 81%. Yet again we have clear evidence that the people of Hertfordshire are being short-changed.’