HIGHWAYS contactors have defended claims they are falling short in the delivery of their services and insisted they are committed to the residents of Gloucestershire.

The response has come after Liberal Democrats sitting on Gloucestershire County Council slammed Amey for not meeting performance targets and said "enough was enough".

The Lib Dems say that after nearly nine months of Amey operating the county’s highways contract, it was time for them to perform better or face further financial penalties.

Issues causing concern include customer service and not meeting pothole repair times not meeting the targeted performance levels and will be raised in a debate at full council at Shire Hall.

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) who will be leading the debate said: “I have spoken to residents and elected members alike who all tell different stories of what is and more importantly what is not being delivered.

“Like all new contracts there will of course be teething problems, but enough is enough. It is time that Amey steps up to the mark in delivering those highway services that meet the needs of all Gloucestershire’s residents, businesses and visitors.

“It is right that payments to Amey from the Council have already been withheld with works not meeting quality standards.

“At full council this month, I will call for the continual monitoring of this contract through both the Highways Governance Board and Highways Advisory Group and if necessary for financial penalties to continue being imposed if performance targets are not being achieved."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group CouncillorJeremy Hilton who will be supporting the motion added:

“This hopefully will act as a real wake up call to Amey in that right across Gloucestershire our highway contractors should be working to repair footpaths and roads to a very high standard.

“You cannot afford to cut corners and unnecessary delays in carrying-out such work are totally unacceptable. Amey need to pull up their socks and do the job they’ve been employed to do.”

However, An Amey spokesman said: “Since the start of our contract in April, we have resurfaced nearly 25 miles of road, emptied approximately 20,000 gullies and cut 50,000 square metres of amenity grass. We are committed to working with Gloucestershire County Council and are always striving to develop improvements to ensure we deliver an effective and efficient highways service for the residents of Gloucestershire. We will continue to work with the council to implement any recommendations that are suggested from the motion.”

The full council will meet on November 26.