AS a postscript to Stuart Miller’s letter (March 8) on the damage being down to our streets with incessant roadworks, I would like to include local authorities along with utilities companies. It is near-impossible to take a turn down any street or road near me without coming up against roadworks and traffic diversions to allow the progress of these roadworks.
I know that there are good reasons for this work to be carried out and that much of it will have to be done in daylight hours for safety reasons (although artificial light could be used). However, I’m sure that councils have a list of – and budget for – long-term infrastructure projects which means that they could be carried out in the summer months.
No, I’m sure that the main reason for coming up against so many roadworks in March is that the end of the financial year is approaching quickly and any money “in the bank” will have to be used up or it will be all the more difficult to justify next time around.
I used to see this during my years in the NHS, where department managers desperately looked for something to buy before the “witching hour” of March 31. This was usually seen most clearly when the offices of the administration, clerical and financial staff would all receive new carpets and furniture.
Barry Lees,
12 Denholm Street, Greenock.
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