I HAVE lived in Cirencester all my life, some 60 years and I can officially confirm that the Romans were far better at building roads than we are today.

They were certainly built to last back then compared to the patchwork quilt roads we use in Cirencester today.

Sadly I have watched Cirencester roads and pathways slowly turn into some of the worst ever seen in Britain today and what’s frightening is that no one seems to care.

What are the authorities, councillors elected and leaders of this community doing to put things right? I tell you, simply nothing. These people are paid to sort this mess out and should be held responsible for the mess the town roads and pathways are in.

Cirencester used to be a community that prided itself on the upkeep of its town and especially the roads and pathways. Questions now need to be asked why are our roads and pathways being allowed to get in this terrible state?

It is bad enough that we have let our hedgerows, roundabouts, grass verges and river banks all over grow. We used to be proud of having one of the finest sports fields in Gloucestershire such as the Grammar School at Victoria Road, sadly now unrecognisable and nothing more than an overgrown eyesore to the local community, the old groundsman must be turning in his grave.

What’s happening? Does no one care?

When visitors used to come to Cirencester they were first greeted with the welcome sign followed soon after by a roundabout which used to be immaculately maintained allowing traffic from all exits to view any possible dangers. In their place we now have two huge roundabouts with Sherwood Forests planted in their middles, leaving both roundabouts more like a Russian roulette wheel, with little care about visibility or safety to all traffic.

We again must ask the question does anyone really care?

Potholes, I am fed up of having to dodge the ruts and potholes and craters when riding my mobility scooter and I am wondering who is going to pay for the new suspension.

I live only 200 yards from the council offices in Trinity Road and from leaving my house the first obstacles are immediately in front of me in St Michaels Road.

You first have to avoid the deep ruts either side and through the middle of the road and when you do arrive at the first T-Junction you then cannot see any on coming traffic from the school end because of the cars that are illegally parked all around the junction.

One would like to drive nearer to the inside of the curb not only for safety but also to allow traffic to pass, but this is not possible because ever few yards another pothole appears, turning the driving experience more into a slalom event in the Winter Olympic, it really is a full scale exercise just trying to avoid each pothole But again we ask does anyone care?

Enough is enough so when is somebody going to take the responsibility and get things done to our roads and pathways? Or do we have to wait until it’s too late and someone is seriously injured or killed?

We should all be ashamed of our roads and pathways and demand that our councillors and local authorities get this problem sorted once and for all. Of course they will say it is not our responsibility, it is the highways. Well if it is, why are the elected chosen few not sorting this problem out with them?

Yesterday I attempted to cross the footpath at City Bank on my scooter. When one approaches the pathway it should carry a serious health and safety warning sign. The sign should read Enter At Your Own Risk. The footpath is not safe for cycles, prams, scooters or even pedestrians let alone my mobility scooter. The surface is raised and rutted and narrows in many places, so I was forced to abort the pathway and take to the grass area, an area which I played on as a child, an area which used to be kept immaculate. Sadly like everywhere else it has now fallen into a state of neglect and remains overgrown and a mess. This is supposed to be a public area for children to play, the riverside, which used to be a pleasure is now a former shadow of itself - left to over grow. No wonder the riverbanks flood so easily.

I am sure each and every one of us in Cirencester can describe something similar to my experiences but we must ask the question does anyone care anymore as it appears our local authorities don’t.

We must ask the question does anyone care ?

M J RICKETTS

Rutland Place

Cirencester