I WAS pleased to read that our local paper is supporting our distinctive area.

I wish I could say the same of our local council.

I have been involved with the building and maintenance of our dry stone walls ever since 1984 when I bought a cottage where all the boundary walls were just mounds of rubble.

I was therefore very disappointed to see a strategic length of dry stone wall in Chalford being cobbled together by two men from North Wales.

On talking to them, they had never built a Cotswold wall before.

I also spoke to the contractor and sub contractor, who had tried to obtain guidance from both SDC and GCC with no response.

Why had the Employment Agency gone to a North Wales contractor.

I think I know the answer!

We have many excellent wallers in the Stroud area, even walling for the Chelsea Flower Show.

On contacting SDC I was told they have no control over the quality of work for this sort of repair.

A well built wall will last for hundreds of years.

A badly built wall will be knocked down in weeks!

Janet Gaskell

Chalford Hill