IS it any wonder that our roads are in a shocking state?

Today I witnessed one of the reasons why they are in the state they are in.

I noticed that men from a utility company were proceeding to dig up a section of Parliament Street using a mechanical digger – this was just opposite the junction of Parliament Street with Ryeleaze Road.

Doubtless, there is probably a valid reason why they need to be doing this but correct me if I am wrong on this but was it only a couple of years ago – maybe less – that Parliament Street from the junction with Cornhill to just above the junction with Ryeleaze Road was resurfaced by the county Highways Department – at public expense – due to a potholed and damaged road surface.

After that, this section of Parliament Street was pothole free.

Now along comes a utility company determined to change that.

After they have done what they need to do, they will fill in the hole and tarmac it over.

Over time, this tarmac patch will deteriorate and will become a pothole.

Other utility companies will probably come along and do the same.

Our utility companies, ie water, gas, electricity and telephone companies, are now privately owned and a good proportion is owned by people overseas who view the British public as a cash cow to be milked for all it is possible to do.

Private owners of our utilities are not motivated by altruism towards us – their customers – but by the need to generate as much profit as possible in return for minimal investment.

If they thought they could get away with providing no service at all, they would do so but knowing they cannot, will provide the bare minimum.

And so it is with the roadworks in Parliament Street where a cheap repair will be made to the road since to do otherwise would bite into the profits of foreign owners and private equity firms.

Who is to blame for this for surely there must be blame?

The blame lies with past and present governments – Labour, Coalition and Conservative who have allowed our vital utilities to pass out of public ownership into private hands who are exploiting the British public.

Foreign owners of our utilities have been noted to say that they cannot believe how easy it is to make so much money in this country – their own countries would not allow it to happen.

What is to be done?

Simple, bring out utilities back into public ownership.

However this requires a will and determination which is lacking in our political leaders.

Personally, I would vote for the person who promises to do such a thing but this requires a huge amount of trust since we all know what politicians are like when it comes to promises!

Huw Niland

Stroud