COUNTY highways contractor Amey has ‘failed to do long lasting quality repairs’ and should be given the boot by Shire Hall according to the Liberal Democrats.

Group leader Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) says he’s embarrassed by the state of local roads and says Gloucestershire County Council should not renew their contract with Amey in 2019.

Gloucestershire County Council says its cabinet will discuss how to turn the £150 million into highways improvements next month, but Cllr Hodgkinson says the investment is mostly made up of funds which would be spent each year anyway.

He said: “The state of our county’s roads is still the main topic of conversation for frustrated motorists and cyclists. I am embarrassed at how poor the highways are in Gloucestershire compared to neighbouring counties.

“What the Lib Dems want to see is the roads contractor Amey being given the boot and told that their contract won’t be renewed when it ends in 2019. The company has failed to do quality, long lasting repairs. We all deserve so much better.”

However, the council says residents can look forward to fewer potholes on Gloucestershire’s roads, thanks to the proposed funding commitment for highways and will be continuing to work with Amey until the end of its contract in March 2019.

A spokesman for Amey said: “We are proud to deliver highways services to Gloucestershire, maintaining over 3,000 miles of road, more than 90,000 gullies and over 50,000 signs across the county and our customer contact centre handles over 70,000 enquiries a year.

“We remain fully committed to providing a high quality service until the natural end of the contract in 2019.”