Lib Dem Mike Chapman from Bovingdon says, "Herts Highways are a Problem still waiting for a Solution."

Mike Chapman discusses Bovingdon's roads with Lib Dem county councillor Nick Hollinghurst.

Yes, we know road maintenance is expensive and difficult.

However the situation has developed that there are now very few companies involved as main contractors.

This means there is not much market competition.

Herts County Council really must develop a more imaginative and robust approach to the contractor supervision and contract management.

Poor communication down a pyramid of sub-contracting is leading to mistakes and slack quality control.

All too often sub-contractors cut corners - and get away with it.

The current flurry of pre-election work (some potholes have recently been filled in) will not be sustained - and may not have been well done.

What we need is a thorough review of how highways contracts should work.

We also need technical assessments as to how the different types, weights, widths and speeds of motor vehicles abrade and erode road surfaces.

Certainly existing weight and vehicle restriction regulations ought to be properly enforced.

At the moment they do not seem to be enforced at all.

We need long term solutions to the problems of road damage and maintenance and an urgent solution to the problem of poor quality contract work.