Merry Christmas!

Letter to BBC South East News Desk

It is not just potholes you know, excavations more like. And, it is not just cars that are affected, cycles too.

Much of our country lane network (rural roads) are in an appalling state; they make it very difficult to cycle, and often downright dangerous.

 If another car is passing they don't have that much room.

One third of the road is covered with debris.

Edges broken away, debris in the centre, there is enough space for a car, but very limited space (with a cliff edge) for a cyclists.  In practice this is a nightmare scenario. 

This is due to years of neglect.

Looking up a fairly steep hill, near Westwell; very dangerous for cyclists especially those descending.

And there is plenty more. It is going to take years to clear this up, and cost many millions. We shouldn't consider any new road building if we can't maintain the ones that we already have.

Copy of email sent to the BBC which was reporting on potholes:-

There is much more to it than just pure potholes.

3 cartoons

Things have improved a little since 1996