'Astonished' (From Warrington Guardian)

'Astonished'

by Guardian

secret report

POLICE authority members said they were 'astonished' at the secret report into road accidents unearthed by the Warrington Guardian.

The members representing Warrington have now arranged a private meeting with senior police officers in March to discuss their concerns.

They want to know why road safety officers from Warrington Borough Council say 80 per cent of the accident reports they have had from Cheshire Police since 1999, have contained errors.

"We hadn't seen the report before it was exposed in the Warrington Guardian. We were as surprised as anyone," said Clr Peter Walker, vice-chair of the authority.

"I was quite astonished by it. What also astonished me is that this has been going on since 1999 and only after it was in the Guardian, were police authority members made aware of it. If the council engineers are not getting the information they need, they can't take the necessary steps for road safety.

"As a member of the police authority, I wanted this sorted out now. And my own party group, the Liberal Democrats, have got copies of the report and we certainly want something done about it."

Clr Brian Maher, who also sits on the police authority, said he was as surprised at the report as Clr Walker and added: "The sooner it is resolved the better."

The results of the private meeting will be reported to the council's transport overview and scrutiny committee.

sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk