Row over how pot of highways money should be spent in Nailsworth (From Stroud News and Journal)

Row over how pot of highways money should be spent in Nailsworth

6:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Hayley Mortimer, Reporter

A ROW has broken out over how a pot of money allocated for highway improvements should be spent in Nailsworth.

Every county councillor in Gloucestershire has been allocated £10,000 for improvements to roads and footpaths in their wards.

Last month, Cllr Stan Waddington, who represents Nailsworth and Minchinhampton, told town councillors in Nailsworth that he was considering spending some of his budget on a road on the Barton Close development.

But town mayor Steve Robinson is urging him to reconsider, saying it is a private road.

Speaking this week, he said: "I agree that it has a poor approach but it is a private development.

"Public money should not be spent on a driveway which should have been paid for by the developer."

Cllr Waddington said: "Although I am still deciding, the money will only be spent on public highways projects that will benefit as many people as possible in both Nailsworth and Minchinhampton.

"Any suggestion that this money will be spent on a private development is incorrect."

Other councillors have been outlining where they intend to spend their money.
Cllr Anthony Blackburn, who represents North Stroud, is spending  £1,000 on signs and chevrons in Colethrop Lane by Haresfield Primary School.

He will spend a further £1,000 to repair potholes in The Close, Whitminster.