I AM sure that we are all fed up with the fact that it has rained everyday since New Year's Day, now a total of 50 days!

Those of us who drive cars, ride bicycles or horses are also appalled by the large amounts of water that now collect on our roads without draining away easily and quickly and the resulting large number of potholes which are such a hazard and cause so much damage to tyres and wheels.

Since medieval times local councils and highway authorities have employed people, known as “Parish Lengthsmen”, to maintain, clean, and undertake minor repairs in public areas and specifically road verges, ditches, gulleys and hedges within a designated local area.

About seven years ago Devon County Council phased out all Parish Lengthsmen and so these gullies, ditches and drains are no longer cleaned and maintained.

Speaking to a Devon Highway man the other day he said that his colleagues therefore now spend all year sorting out problems arising from this lack of maintenance.

Surely a false economy on behalf of the County Council who should now consider re-introducing Parish Lengthsmen.

Robin Thomas

East Raddon

Thorverton

Exeter