BACK in the good old days of 1984, a story was published about Hereford-Worcester county councillor Liz Tucker, now deputy leader of the Worcestershire authority, cycling around Upton Snodsbury looking for potholes.

The world has changed a great deal since then. Margaret Thatcher has been consigned to the historical bin, the Berlin Wall is a hazy memory and McDonald's has a "restaurant" in Malvern.

But the potholes remain, despite the fact that the Tories - for whom road maintenance was far from a high priority - haven't been in power at County Hall since 1993.

In fact, the road between Upton Snodsbury and Broughton Hackett is a fine (or should that be crumbling?) - example of this perennial blight. You don't need traffic calming down that stretch, rest assured.

I'm tempted to suggest the situation could be improved if the Liberal Democrats diverted their efforts away from daubing red paint on the old asphalt and towards road maintenance.

But I won't do so. Angry Lib Dem fists were shaken after last week's County Commentary, in which I implied residents were forced to accept traffic-calming.

The Liberal Democrats insist that parishes' consent is necessary before the infamous yellow signs and red paint make their appearance.

That said, my article was prompted in part by an interview about the Safer Routes to School scheme in Red Hill with Worcester City Council's principal engineer, Andy Walford.

The council officer pointed out that the county's highways partnership was not obliged to back down if there were objections from the community. I'll leave readers to make up their own minds about how voluntary such measures are.

Meanwhile, will we see Coun Tucker astride her boneshaker come the next county election calling for more cash to mend our roads?