Does Southcourt get a rough deal?

Cllr Mark Bateman showing the state of paths around Southcourt in Aylesbury - pictured in Old Stoke Road

Southcourt has unfairly missed out on much-needed works to pavements and footpaths according its councillor.

Aylesbury Vale District councillor Mark Bateman claims that other areas of Aylesbury do not look as run down as Southcourt, and that elderly people and those with pushchairs run the gauntlet with their safety whenever they leave the house.

Mr Bateman has spoken with officials at Transport For Bucks, who say that while they agree that work needs to be done, there is not enough money in the council’s shrinking budget to do it.

The Labour councillor, who took on the post at the May election last year, said: “The pavements are an absolute disgrace, I walk around town and I don’t see anything as bad as I can see on this estate.

“I met with the county council cabinet member for transport and we walked around the estate, he abolsutely agreed with me, but the answer was that there is no money left.

“If you walk around places like Bedgrove and Broughton and the have a look at Southcourt there’s definitely a

difference, I don’t think it has received the same attention.

“It’s just not good enough for the council to shrug its shoulders and say there is no money left.”

Councillor Mark Shaw, cabinet member for transportation at Bucks County Council, said: “Obviously we would like to be able to repair all roads and pavements throughout the county, but budget constraints do not allow us to do this.

“We have a duty to maintain the carriageway, and operate an asset management approach toward prioritising our work.”