A SUGGESTION that roads in Cheshire West and Chester were significantly worse than the English average with regard to road injuries and deaths was not accepted at a full meeting of the borough council.
The issue was raised by Cllr Andrew Dawson, (Con, Frodsham and Helsby).
Cllr Dawson said he was referring to recently published information which he believed suggested that although some progress had been made "our roads remain significantly worse than the English average with regard to road injuries and deaths."
He asked if it was anticipated this would not be the case sometime in the future "or would this be an unreasonable expectation for this borough in the light of the nature of our road network?"
Cllr Dawson suggested that in 2009/10 the borough had suffered 69 additional deaths or injuries compared with the average.
Replying on behalf report of environment portfolio holder Cllr Lynn Riley (Con, Weaver), who was not present, council leader Cllr Mike Jones (Con, Broxton) pointed out the council was responsible for more than 2,500 kilometres of roads and had "a population which is predominantly rural or semi rural in character."
"Inevitably, therefore, with this data being based on all English local authority areas, we do not compare favourably with the average because we are not an average council area."
He added:"What you should do is compare the data with like councils where I don't think the data is anything like as bad as you suggest."
