New Tory Council puts road safety at risk

9.37.00pm GMT Wed 25th Mar 2009

Council have put road safety at risk by diverting government funds

"The new Cheshire East Council is risking more deaths on local roads by diverting 40% of the road safety grant given to it by the Government." Claims Dr Peter Hirst, local Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson, after hearing that the Council's ruling Tories have diverted this money to prop up expenditure in other departments.

Responding to the news that Cheshire East have hijacked this cash, Dr Hirst says " This money is allocated by central government to help reduce the carnage on our roads. It seems Cheshire East Council is risking more road deaths in order to balance the budget."

"The out-going Cheshire County Council has withheld 20% of this road safety budget in previous years - which was bad enough" he continues, "but to divert nearly half the Government road safety money is really quite staggering! At the very least we need to know why they are withholding such a large proportion of this central government grant."