Congratulations on the progress of the Gazette's A4 campaign. As you say in your leader (18/12/03) "Action is what is needed, sooner rather than later, if even more lives are not to be lost".

We will all trust the politicians to allocate the due funds in March, then for the Wiltshire County Council professionals to determine the most appropriate safety improvements, but some action could happen tomorrow.

Using that stretch of A4 the other day, in dull daylight, I found it very difficult to make out many of the road markings that should already be there.

Wiltshire is not the only culprit of course, but I am left wondering why failure to do the road maintenance day job properly is seemingly tolerated.

Neglect of the basics, like lines and signage on Britain's highways has reached unprecedented levels.

I believe there was a significant court action (with exemplary damages awarded) a couple of years ago, which revealed a reduction in safety because a council had chosen not to bother trimming back hedges for a number of years.

Highway authorities now seem to take hedgecutting seriously again.

I sincerely hope it does not have to take a court case where lack of signs and markings is proved to have

contributed to a death.

Some of the worst surface and

formation problems understandably may have to take their turn with tight budgets, but this sort of thing is small change by comparison.

Perhaps there is a case for an HM Inspectorate of Highways, with all the enforcement clout of the Health and Safety Executive, to ensure compliance?

Most industries would face huge fines for similar behaviour, so why should councils be immune?

T Mayo

Kington Langley