6 IT is heartening that the Evening News remembers my Cycle Survey of the state of local roads in 1984.

Paul Stammers must be a mind-reader, because I was seriously considering working off the Christmas turkey next Wednesday revisiting my former route round the lanes.

Come and join me Paul, if the weather permits! I've upgraded the sit-up and beg bicycle for a little red Brompton now, but I'm sure I can find some worse examples than the pothole in your photograph, which is unacceptable on an 'A' road.

Everyone knows the roads are in a bad state through lack of money to maintain them. Worcestershire's underspending in the early 1990s was further cut and capped by the Tory government year on year.

The Labour Government has finally relaxed the rules but not the injustice of our low funding, which is now £23m below the county average. There was never enough money left in the purse for better road maintenance.

That is why in February 1999 I pushed for the policy of an extra 1 per cent on maintenance. That is why I welcome the excellent news that government has allowed us extra borrowing power to start catching up on the backlog.

Don't tell us that local people have to choose between safe villages and mended potholes! For years and years, many villages resented how traffic could speed selfishly through, ruining their quality of life.

They wanted 30mph speed limits and we had to climb a mountain to deliver it for them.

In a perfect world, all drivers would be courteous and considerate, and few rules and signs would be needed. In the meantime, parish councils have accepted the offer of signs and road markings to help everyone remember - Worcestershire villages: 30 max!

LIZ TUCKER, County Councillor.