The next time you see several holes in the road, don't blame the contractors, blame the council officials, who seem quite happy to waste our ever increasing council tax by neglecting to update their information given to contractors.

For example, contractors came to put in gas service pipe. They dug up a length of new tarmac pathway, they stood scratching their heads and asked me if I had any idea of where the gas main pipe was. Luckily I was able to comply with their request, because I saw new gas pipes being installed many years ago in this street.

I told them they were under the road, not the path.

They then showed me the council services plan. Yes, you've guessed it, the plan showed the gas main to be under the path.

So now we have yet another hole dug in the road, and what should have taken half a day, took the whole day, thus the job booked for the afternoon had to be left. And who is going to foot the bill for this nasty piece of negligence the tax payer, or so they think.

If this council worked efficiently, in all departments, a rise of five per cent would be a realistic increase in council tax.

B W Breakspear

Swindon