RURAL residents pay high community taxes but don't get their money's worth from the County Council a borough politician claims.

Englesea Brook councillor Maureen Campbell has presented 40 letters of complaint from constituents in Weston, Crewe Green and Oakhanger to county member Arthur Moran who chairs the Highways and Transportation Committee.

Cllr Campbell says: "Most of them concern road and traffic issues. Since the beginning of April the Cheshire authority has taken on full responsibility for these.

"Borough members have received many complaints about things like pot-holes, street lighting, uneven pavements, poor drainage and traffic congestion.

"Now the ball is well and truly in the county authority's court and it is to the county members that disgruntled people should complain."

"Does the County Council support the principle of the rural areas being inhabited? If that is the case, what help and assistance is it willing to give the population. Rural council tax banding is usually quite high yet the quality of life and the environment are sadly eroding. These people pay high taxes. They deserve a life," she added.

High on the list of complaints she has received is the lack of measures to deter motorist rat-running through the country lanes during the building of the Shavington Bypass.

"I met with police and highways more than two years ago and was assured there would be some protection in the form of pinch points and refuge for road users during the construction work. But nothing has been done and we are seeing huge lorries and more speeding cars than ever careering round the lanes putting people's lives at risk," Cllr Campbell said.

"The narrow roads are eroding and protected trees are at risk. Most importantly, people are deterred from venturing out because of the dangers. We have been asking for a contingency plan now for 12 years, but no one listens or helps. Only three weeks ago, one of the 7.5ton limit lanes had three 44ton lorries on it thundering along just a few yards away from the main gas line," she added.

Cllr Campbell claims that she receives more letters and phone calls than ever before about the roads.

"All I can do now is direct the complainers to the County. They have the listening ear and the purse strings.

I would also like to appeal to those drivers who are using our lanes as rat-runs to remember other road users, the wildlife and those who live on the rural routes they are abusing," she said.

CREWE and Nantwich Borough Council's decision to hand back its Highways and Transportation function in its Joint Office to the Cheshire County Council from April 1st has now been implemented.

Borough officers working in the Engineering service on traffic issues and highway maintenance are now County Council employees.

Most will continue to be based in the Municipal Buildings in Crewe until the County is able to relocate them to an alternative local base.

Derek Cook, the borough's Executive Director for Environment and Development commented: "It's the end of an era. The borough has carried out highway functions on behalf of the county since 1974 and more recently through a Joint Office.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the staff who have been transferred, for their hard work for the borough council over the years".

Members of the public wishing to take up matter such as pot-holes, street lighting, uneven pavements, street drainage and traffic congestion should now contact the County Council Engineering Service on 01270 537517.