IT is with disbelief that I read proposed work relating to the 79 patches of tarmac in the High Street between the Nationwide Building and Edinburgh Wool Mill are to be funded by the county, or more accurately us, the taxpayer.

Each one of these patches surely represents an excavation that, for one reason or another, was made by one of the major utility groups.

It has been the case for some years now that any utility opening a public highway shall apply for an opening and closing notice for each and every excavation, thus giving each and every reinstatement a specific owner.

There is an obligation that this owner shall reinstate the area excavated exactly as they found it to an agreed high specification. The utility effectively becomes responsible for that area for life.

It is the local authority's legal responsibility to police the legislation, namely the New Roads and Street Works Act. This is an Act of Parliament, it is not optional. Failure to comply with the legislation carries stiff penalties.

The legislation was put in place specifically to stop the local authority or taxpayer suffering the cost of poor workmanship. Are we to assume that idleness on the part of the county can and will be tolerated, and that we, the taxpayer, should reach ever deeper into our pockets to bail them out?

I would welcome comment on this by Worcestershire County Council.

MRS M L GLAZZARD,

St John's

Worcester.