After a lifetime of dedicated service to education in Hampshire, I decided to sell my saloon car and invest part of my lump sum in a small Mercedes sports car with retractable roof. How I regret that decision!

Today, in the warm sunshine, my wife and I drove off into the highways and byways of Hampshire to enjoy the outstanding and beautiful countryside. The scenery along our river valleys, over our chalk downs and through our ancient forests is truly wonderful. Could I enjoy it?

No, I could not! With my eyes totally engaged on the road ahead, I zigzagged around pothole after pothole and twice was caught unawares; the impact shook us both to the core. The alloy wheels of my pride and joy are wrecked. Driving in Hampshire is no longer a pleasure - it has become the necessity of getting from A to B along the least hazardous roads.

Last year we holidayed in Spain where the roads were immaculate and properly constructed. How we miss that EU money!

Driving in Australia, in Vietnam, in France, Italy and Germany is joyous - not so in the properous south of England. Hampshire as a local authority appears to have lost its grip on standards and quality of service; political leaders and managers have to confront the problem and do something about it before we all descend into the abyss of an extremely deep pothole.

We, as Council Tax payers, are not getting value for money. There is too much laissez faire and acceptance of the third rate and not enough determination, expectation and hard graft.

Yours in exasperation,

Bob Sprague,

Lakewood Road,

Chandler’s Ford

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