Sir.-I wish to reply to Cllr Keith Estlin's response regarding the roadworks in Basingstoke.

His response was an excellent political reply and the strenuous efforts appreciated.

However, in contacting my local councillor Ron Hussey, the following response was provided to my questions regarding the atrocious finish left by Scottish and Southern Energy.

Roadworks: The county council highway officers are responsible for ensuring that the contractors meet the terms and conditions of the contract.

I need to check if the current re-instatement is intended to be permanent or temporary, but I agree that the current state is not satisfactory.

County officers will inspect the reinstatement works in six months time (after allowing for settlement caused by traffic etc) and they will tell the contractors where further work is required to bring the re-instatement up to standard.

It seems that older people know a bit more through less strenuous efforts than the executive member for the environment.

There must be a responsibility for the utility companies to put it back as they found it.

If that responsibility exits, then I suggest Cllr Estlin applies some of the responsibility through even more strenuous efforts and provides a deadline to the utilities company to put things right, or send them the bill.

Already there are lumps of asphalt breaking away from the top finish so I doubt if it will last three months.

I also notice that the drains in parts are filled with dirt etc, so I fear flooding will be the next obstruction.

-David Simmonds, Sheppard Road, Basingstoke.