Partnership Working, "Your Highways, Your Say"

YOUR Highways in Brentwood

From March, an unprecedented initiative will see Brentwood residents have direct influence on how money is spent on their local highways.  Under the unique Partnership between Brentwood Borough Council and Essex County Council, the two councils will be the first in Essex to localise highway decision making. 

The Press Conference

Local people will be asked what improvements they would like to see; from installing a new crossing, road resurfacing or a cycle-path to cutting verges, repairing bus shelters or requesting the installation of traffic lights etc.

A local Brentwood Highways Panel will consider the views of Brentwood people and determine locally which projects are to be progressed.  The Panel will enable local decision making over nearly every aspect relating to highways.

Some of the immediate benefits of the scheme will come in the form of two new, full time ‘spot and fix’ Brentwood Highways Rangers, a Highways Liaison Officer, a Community Initiative Fund and Highways Surgeries.  

In October 2007, both Councils formally began an historic agreement to share resources across a whole range of services to improve efficiency and value for money.  This initiative is one example of how the Partnership is working towards giving Brentwood residents a better quality of life. 

Cllr Brandon Lewis, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council

Lord Hanningfield, Leader of Essex County Council, said: “I am delighted to announce this new initiative that will see local people directly influencing what matters to them, not just at the ballot box every four years but every day. Time and time again through consultation, we’ve been told that people want to be involved in decisions affecting their community and the Local Highways Panel will be the embodiment of that. Local people will be able to genuinely have more say over what they want to see happen on their street, outside their children’s school or near their workplace.”

Cllr Norman Hume, Transportation and Highway Cabinet Member

Councillor Brandon Lewis, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, said: “This initiative is one of the most important to come out of the Partnership to date. What happens to Brentwood’s highways affects the whole community.  Brentwood residents know their local area better than anyone else, so it stands to reason that they should be consulted. It is imperative that local people have a hand in the decision making.  No one will have a greater say on the future of highways in Brentwood than the people of Brentwood.”

Hear what Cllr Brandon Lewis had to say click here

Hear what Cllr Norman Hume had to say click here

Article by Steve Mead, 22 Feb 2008
Posted in Local news

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