Highways workers facing axe in Staffordshire

Amey, which is contracted by the county council to maintain roads, confirmed it was reviewing staffing levels and was in consultation with workers.

The firm has stated that it will focus on more preventative measures and the use of technology.

Despite Amey operating dozens of multi-million pound highways contracts throughout the UK including Birmingham, the company confirmed that job losses were only being considered in Staffordshire.

It was unable to say how many jobs were likely to be affected at this stage.

Spokesman Alistair Duncan, said: "Amey's contract with Staffordshire County Council began in October 2014.

"As part of the contract, we are committed to adopting new approaches to maintaining Staffordshire's highways.

"We are now concentrating much more on preventative aspects of road maintenance, better asset management and the use of new technology.

"This is a more efficient way of working and we are now working through any impact this may have on our staffing levels.

"We are still consulting with staff and in discussion with the unions. Until this reaches its conclusion, it would not be appropriate to go into more detail, but we are committed to keeping our employees up to date with the changes."

Cannock Chase District Council leader George Adamson was sceptical whether the current level of service would be maintained with fewer people.

He said: "You know when you are coming into Staffordshire just by the state of the roads. They are abysmal. The road surface is awful.

"Now highways staff are going to be made redundant. I can't see how things are going to get any better."

The company's contract in Staffordshire is worth £80million a year and is set to run until 2024.

County Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet support member for highways and transport said: "All of the planned savings relating to highways over the next five years are detailed in our Medium Term Financial Strategy, which has not been approved yet by Full Council.

"As part of the county council's contract award to Amey in October 2014, Amey agreed to deliver better value for money for taxpayers not from cuts to council budgets, but through initiatives such as better use of new technology."

The technology includes a 'pothole zapper', while the firm also aims to provide better customer service. The contract is for 10 years.

Councillor Deaville added: "Staffordshire County Council is not planning a programme of redundancies – we are aware Amey are looking at their structure, but this will not affect performance as this is already set out in the contract.

"We estimate that this contract will deliver nearly £20million savings to taxpayers over five years."