MEMBERS of the Basingstoke Liberal Democrats group are calling on Hampshire County Council to ensure the town’s roads are safe.
In recent months the group has been made aware of a number of damaged road signs, which members claim could put motorist’s safety at risk.
In just one month, the party identified four roundabouts near Brighton Hill where the ‘chevron’ safety signs have been damaged.
Members found that the signage had been damaged on the junction of Cliddesden Lane and Brighton Way, on the Hackwood Road roundabout where the sign was damaged four months ago and at the Golden Lion roundabout approaching from Cliddesden Road.
Andy Konieczko, who is standing as a candidate in the borough councillor elections in May for Brighton Hill North, representing the Lib Dems said: “The chevrons on roundabouts are there to advise motorists. They are a highway safety feature. There are rather a lot of roundabouts in Basingstoke, so it’s important that they’re as safe as possible.
“Why then do several of Basingstoke’s roundabouts have signs that have been damaged for months? Why has the Conservative-run county council failed to repair them in a timely fashion?
“Perhaps the county council no longer carries out regular highway inspection tests as part of its cost cutting ‘efficiency’ measures?”
However, the county council said that the damaged signs have been reported and are scheduled for repair.
Councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport for Hampshire County Council, said: “Safety comes first, and I can confirm these damaged signs are scheduled for repair within the next couple of days. Damaged signs are recorded as part of our regular routine safety inspections and repairs prioritised depending on location.”
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