West Sussex Liberal Democrats welcome more funding for highways but express worries this is a one off Conservative election plan

Liberal Democrat councillors at WSCC have welcomed the allocation of more money for highway maintenance after their proposal to do this a year ago. However, they warned that with no promise of increased funding beyond this year that this could be nothing more than cynical electioneering by Conservatives with one eye on the May elections.

Speaking before the county council meeting on Friday, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Kirsty Lord (Hassocks and Burgess Hill South) said

“In 2022, with much tighter budgets than today, Liberal Democrat produced a financially sound proposal that would have provided more money for potholes. Despite the ongoing public outcry about the state of our roads, the Conservatives turned our proposal down. A year later they have finally allocated more money for pothole repairs which we welcome. However with elections looming in May and no commitment that this money will stay in the highways budget in future years, we are worried that this is nothing more than cynical electioneering”

Cllr Kate O’Kelly (Midhurst) added “Our roads are in a terrible state and are costing residents a fortune in tyre replacement and expensive repairs. For cyclists, potholes are a huge safety risk. While we welcome the money, we question why the Tories didn’t take up our proposal for more money last year and we are worried that this commitment to our roads will be forgotten next year when there are no local elections. We are calling on the Conservatives to commit this money to our highways for the long term benefit of West Sussex residents not the short term benefit of the Conservative Party”

In addition, the Liberal Democrats have tabled a budget amendment that would see more money for children’s mental health, elderly residents and their carers, walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and climate change funded without cuts to any frontline services.