Jason Zadrozny Column: New Year, same old problems!

Over the Christmas period – hundreds of residents got in touch with the Ashfield Independent team and I.

Not just to wish us a Happy Christmas but to report pot-hole and flooding issues. This has carried on into the New Year and it’s clear that the state of our broken roads and pavements that Conservative-run Nottinghamshire County Council are responsible for - are at their worst for a generation.

This has been a recurring problem for years. New Year – same old problems. The Independent Alliance team, who I lead at County Hall have been trying time and time again to do something about it.

Last year, I said we would fight to get £1million extra spent on highways in the Ashfield District this year. Such was the state of our broken roads and pavements – we actually found the money to immediately spend £3million in every single Borough and District in the County. Our team of councillors put together an alternative budget to County Hall that would have scrapped the brand new, multi-million council offices at Top Wighay Farm, near Hucknall. The Tories, and shockingly the Labour Party both voted against this.

In December, the Independent Alliance opposition group revealed figures that showed that whilst compensation claims for pot-hole damage was at a record high – pay outs were at a record low. At Nottinghamshire County Council, your Council Tax is the highest in the UK of any similar council – yet a look at our broken roads and pavements will tell you that you are being ripped off by the Tories.

Reports of flooding continue apace as it’s clear that our infrastructure cannot cope with worsening weather patterns. This is why, I am proud that Ashfield District Council are standing up to the Conservative Government over enforced housing targets.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year. I am confident that 2024 will see Ashfield deliver the change it deserves.