SIR – Several letter writers lately have expressed their incredulity at Worcestershire County Council’s highways chief being allowed to spend two days of his working week with Kent County Council.

As if there weren’t enough problems in Worcestershire.

A clue to this situation lies in the recent reports of controversy over a number of highways and transportation proposals, notably whether or not to “complete” Worcester’s western bypass or, instead, build a new city centre road bridge.

Transport specialists employed by the county are also keen to introduce bus priority schemes and other measures aimed at tackling Worcester’s chronic traffic congestion.

They don’t appear to have reckoned with the traditionalists who won’t contemplate any limitation on the use of private cars, even for the shortest of journeys.

What we seem to have now is a classic confrontation between council officers hired to achieve workable solutions to local problems and their political masters, whose minds are stuck in their reactionary past.

If this is the reason for the highways chief seeking refuge in Kent, then good luck to him. He deserves our sympathy.

DAVID CANDLER,

City councillor, St John’s ward.