Fylde scrutiny review into county roads scrapped

Fylde Council has decided to discontinue its in-depth scrutiny review into Lancashire County Council’s highways maintenance services.

The decision was reached at the Community Focus Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday 16 October, following months of dedicated work by a specially appointed Task and Finish Group. Drawing on publicly available data, the Group carried out in-depth research to identify practical ways to improve road and pavement maintenance for the benefit of local communities.

The Group expressed disappointment that Lancashire County Council chose not to engage with Fylde Council delegates, citing that road responsibilities within the borough fall under the County Council’s jurisdiction.

While the review faced headwinds in accessing certain operational information, alongside the complex nature of the highways work and upcoming upheaval linked to Local Government Reorganisation, the Council is choosing to focus resources where they can make the biggest difference for residents.

Councillor Michael Withers, Chair of the Task and Finish Group, said: “I acknowledge that the roads are a matter for Lancashire County Council, and we didn’t seek to undermine but to support the Council. The number one issue that our residents have is the unsatisfactory state of the highways, which have deteriorated markedly in recent years.

“It is with regret that we have been forced to discontinue the review and cease any further allocation of resources because of the persistent lack of co-operation from LCC Highways.

“I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work and enthusiasm, which, on this occasion, have been thwarted.

“I am proud of the work our group has undertaken and the insights we’ve gained. While we would have welcomed more collaborative engagement in the review process, we’re now focused firmly on the future. The knowledge we’ve gathered will help us champion the specific improvements our residents need, and I’m confident our renewed approach will deliver positive results for communities across Fylde.”