SIR, — I hope that Herts County Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for transport, environment and rural affairs, will have read with dismay about the farcical incompetence of contractors who were scheduled to resurface Spencer Street, St Albans, one

SIR, - I hope that Herts County Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for transport, environment and rural affairs, will have read with dismay about the farcical incompetence of contractors who were scheduled to resurface Spencer Street, St Albans, one of the many roads in my division which is disintegrating (Herts Advertiser, April 3).

I was initially relieved that Herts Highways at least had had the guts to apologise to the residents and businesses who were inconvenienced - although I still think that compensation is due and that the county council must mount an investigation into how this all happened in the first place.

But what had infuriated me and no doubt many of your readers is the attempt by AmeyLafarge to blame the local residents. Their statement said: "All adjoining properties were letter dropped, no-waiting cones were placed out and all cars were leafleted. These activities would have provided everyone with the advance notice of the works to be carried out the following day. Unfortunately all these warnings were ignored..."

How would Cllr Pile like it if he got less than 24 hours to vacate his street? And what about residents who were away overnight? The fact remains that the occupation of this road was illegal.

I now want to know who will now be departing from AmeyLafarge as a result of this outrageous attack and when AmeyLafarge is to issue a public apology for its statement. Better still when is this ridiculous company going to be removed from the Herts Highways arrangements?

CHRIS WHITE,

Herts County Councillor for St Albans Central Division.

n Editor's note: It is somewhat unusual to have a response to a letter at the same time that it appears but in response to Cllr White's letter AmeyLafarge have managed to come up with a more timely and apologetic apology than last week's effort. It goes as follows:

AmeyLafarge would like to apologise for any inconvenience or disruption caused by the closure of Spencer Road, St Albans, by our staff on March 27.

Following our press statement on April 3, we would like to emphasise that we accept full responsibility for the road closure and any inference otherwise was entirely unintentional.

We will work with the community to ensure minimum disruption is caused when road maintenance is carried out, and will ensure the public are properly and promptly informed. The patience of Herts residents is appreciated while this and other essential work is carried out. We will be personally contacting a number of residents affected, however, if you have any concerns or would like to speak to us about this matter please contact us on 01707 661558.