HAVING recently moved into this beautiful part of the world, I am very impressed at the frequency of street cleansing, having come from a cash- strapped area where street cleaning was on a very tight budget.

However, I find it difficult to find anyone who can remember when the drains were last cleaned and many are blocked solid. I have asked Kennet District Council for information on its policy on drain cleaning and road maintenance in this area but have not yet received an answer.

Reading last week's Gazette perhaps I see why a 20 per cent increase to the chief executive at a time of high council tax and poor maintenance suggests a lack of understanding as to what is required in Marlborough.

Chief executives do command a high salary but please do not compare Kennet with Basingstoke. They are worlds apart in every aspect.

If officers are only in the job for the money they should be allowed to go.

Perhaps when some of the new councillors get into place they could explain their apparent misguided policies, or are they, like their leader, lost in the land of mists and dreams?

S PASCALL

Marlborough