COUNCILLORS have been left unimpressed by a Somerset Council initiative to bring important road maintenance services to Wellington.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee met on September 9 where councillors looked at details of the proposed enhanced highways maintenance programme received from Somerset Council and how it might be applied in Wellington.

These works include pothole repairs, grass and hedge cutting, sign cleaning, fencing repairs, gully emptying, surface water drainage jetting and repairs, road and pavement linings, tree surgery and traffic management for local events.

Town and parish councils are being asked to join the scheme being devised by Somerset Council and its highway contractor Kier to create individual contracts for each area depending on what work is needed and how often.

A report said: “Kier’s dedicated community engagement manager will meet with the parish and town councils and agree the works required and the time necessary to complete these works. If there is a need for additional materials, for example, this will be brought together into a bespoke price for each parish.

“Once the price is agreed between both parties, an invoice will be raised to the town or parish council and the works will be programmed in for completion.”

Somerset Council has priced day rates for work at £684.71 for Monday to Friday, £778.41 for Saturday and £935.72 for Sunday.

Wellington councillors discussed the information and were unimpressed in the lack of supporting background information such as existing maintenance schedules and dates that certain tasks were carried out.

And Cllr John Thorne said: “I have read this whole report and it has got the whiff of a scam! I don’t like it and we should keep it at arms’ length.”

Town clerk Dave Farrow said: “This is what the offer is from Somerset Council and Kier. This is what we can have, but there are questions on what they can deliver. There is a lack of clarity – we need more information.”

It was agreed that given the proposed day rate costs, it was likely that it would be more efficient for the town council’s open spaces team to pick up these tasks.

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “If we have to clear gullies could we send Somerset Council a bill? If Somerset Council can’t do the services it says it will do, I really think we should be able to send them a bill!”

Mr Farrow reported that more information on specialist services such as gully cleansing had been requested.

“I’m still waiting to hear back from the highways department - but that is normal for them,” he said. 

“Councillors have hit the nail on the head - this is what we can have, but there are questions on what Somerset Council can deliver.

“We have certain principles on what services we expect to be delivered in the town, but we need the information now because we need to start looking at the budgets for next year and to decide what we can do.”