PRATTS BOTTOM: Rumble strips, thousands wasted as councillor goes against residents' wishes

12.00.00am GMT Tue 6th Dec 2005

On Monday Bromley Council's Executive Councillor for the Environment decided to leave the remaining rumble strips on Rushmore Hill in place - this includes both sets at the southern end (which most people support) and the set in the village centre (which many residents want removed because of the noise).

Discussion of the rumble strips was moved to the end of the meeting to allow time for the local Conservative councillors to attend, but even then they nearly missed the discussion when they arrived nearly an hour and a half late.

Cllr Grainger faced questions as to why he had pushed for rumble strips - even though the advice of Council officers was that they were not appropriate for the location, particularly because of noise.

Cllr Grainger also said he wanted the strips in the village centre to remain, even though an email from the residents' association was read out asking for them to be removed. The rumble strips that have been removed will not be replaced by other traffic calming measures by the Conservative Council.

One Council officer described the situation now as "the best of a bad job". Thousands of pounds have been wasted by the Council in installing and removing the strips.