Highways maintenance in Colchester is the worst I have ever known.

So I am not filled with joy that Essex County Council is to extend, by a further five years, the privatised contract it has with a company called Ringways Jacobs.

Until little more than ten years ago, highways in Colchester were looked after by the borough council, by a workforce who lived locally and thus knew their home area very well.

Potholes were dealt with more quickly then, as were all other matters of defects relating to roads, pavements, kerbs, road markings and street light repairs.

Essex County Council, however, clearly did not approve of the successful way Colchester Council operated highways matters and cancelled, as it was legally entitled to in a 1972 Act of Parliament, the agency agreement under which the borough continued as an effective highways organisation more than 100 years.

Very sensibly, Essex County Council agreed it would be a nonsense to stop Colchester Council continuing with the successful operation it had.

Sadly, about 35 years later, the arrogance of the political leadership at County Hall in Chelmsford led firstly to the cancellation of the agency agreement with Colchester Council and then the privatisation of highways maintenance.

Out went public sector not-for-profit effective maintenance to be replaced by a profit-making company under whom I regret to say highways maintenance in Colchester has become the worst in living memory.

The sooner Essex County Council is abolished and Colchester Council becomes a unitary authority the better it will be.

Sir Bob Russell

Catchpool Road, Colchester