SO the Government of the day is intending to produce a league of tables showing how value for money are the local county councils nation-wide. Oh dear, how will Herefordshire Council fare in this league of tables ... not in the top 100 I feel - most probably in the last ten if past performance is anything to go on.

Remember the debacle of reversing the road system in Hereford, what a waste of public money, local people told them it wouldn't work. But where is the ring road around Hereford city - still missing. New car parking regulations are driving local people and visitors alike from Hereford city and its market towns - still they blunder on.

Let's concentrate on Ledbury and the achievements of Hereford Council for this small market town and its population over the last 12 months.

At the Top Cross we have a four-way traffic crossing, so HC install a traffic system that only works a three/half way traffic light system, what a Heath Robinson affair. As for planning it would seem that rules and regulations go out of the window to force through more houses irrespective of what the local people want, let alone that Ledbury town councillors have vigorously opposed such planning.

The houses to be built near the primary school and on the area marked down for leisure use in New Mills are prime examples of planning gone totally out of control.

Finally we come to the "Case for the Lost Loos of Ledbury". For over nine months this town has been waiting for new public toilets. The town council of Ledbury and its councillors, along with other bodies representing the interests of Ledbury, have been in constant discussion and meetings with HC departments. All advice from these people who know what is best for Ledbury town have been ignored by the "we who know best brigade" in HC and it's councillors.

The worrying thing for me is what are our local Herefordshire Council councillors actually doing for the people of Ledbury, they seem conspicuously silent in all these matters. If a record of their activities of how, and what they voted for, and against, in respect of Ledbury whilst serving on HC committees for the past 12 months were published, I think the people of Ledbury would see why Ledbury is in this sorry situation.

CHARLES STEVEN WHICKHAM, Deer Park, Ledbury.