Buyer beware: County policy change

10.10.57am GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

A change in policy by the Tory-run County Council will leave people buying new build houses feeling like they need the trading standards department. The county council has changed its policy on the adoption of roads on new build estates so that in future it will no longer adopt no through roads and cul de sacs. This change will leave home buyers, who will pay at least 70% of the council tax to the county council, with a future headache when their road develops pot holes or faults: they, with their neighbours, will have to foot the bill.

Opposition Highways Spokesperson Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst condemned the change: "We know that the county is slow at sorting out the adoption of roads and often has a poor record in doing so, but with an

expected 85,000 new houses in the county by 2021, this change of policy will mean hundreds, if not thousands, of second class roads. It will be left to the residents, and possibly the developers, to maintain them forever more. However these residents will still be expected to pay their full council tax - often over £2,000 a year - of which over 70% goes to the county council. It is disgraceful that the county now wants to opt out of maintaining these new roads and their lights."