The following is a letter written to the SNJ in response to another on the state of Culver Hill. Send your own in to letters@stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk

Living just off Culver Hill for thirty two years I would like to offer some different views to those expressed by Dave Cliff (SNJ, January 9).

The water company concerned is Severn Trent. Prior to work starting, staff of that company held a very helpful question and answer open morning in the Amberley Parish Rooms.

During this, the reasons for the work were explained clearly. In addition, throughout the period of work we received several letters which provided clear updates as work progressed.

We did have concerns about the potential inconvenience that the closure of Culver Hill might cause.

In the event any inconvenience has been minor. This is due in large part to Culver Hill being worked in sections so that residents have had access throughout.

Access via other routes has been good, for example up Bear Hill, and Severn Trent’s signage has been excellent.

Any inconvenience has been more than offset by having a period of peace and calm along Culver Hill without the noise of heavy lorries and coaches, and the absence of vehicles driven at speeds more suited to race tracks.

Ideally it would have been nice to have the full width of the road resurfaced.

However, the infill has been completed to a very good standard.

Far from being left in the bad state Mr Cliff asserts, in several places the road has in fact been left in a better condition than it was before work started.

Multiple layers of different grades of material have been used for the infill so hopefully the road will be able to withstand the wear and tear after Culver Hill is reopened.

During several of our walks along Culver Hill whilst work was in progress my wife and I spoke at length with the engineers. It was obvious immediately that the excavation of the trench is a skilled job, not least by having to avoid damage to old underground cables and pipes.

We were always greeted with courtesy and politeness, and our questions were always answered fully.

I think Severn Trent should be congratulated on the considerate way in which they have planned and executed the work up from the A46. The engineers doing the work should also be congratulated for doing a fine job.

Robert Scully

St Chloe