I was interested to read J Freman's views on withholding council tax (Opinion, March 23) and Clifford Witt's remarks about the shortcomings of the highways authorities (Opinion, March 27).

Incompetent and financially irresponsible bureaucrats should be banned from wasting any more of our money and their powers should be severely curtailed.

The Highways Agency is a case in point. Thousands of traffic cones litter the landscape for weeks on end, more often than not without visible sign of repairs underway, but occasionally surround gaping holes with a couple of workmen standing nearby watching each other make tea.

On the continent, roadworks are completed overnight with minimum disruption to traffic - why not here?

Next month, it seems the A27 will be closed in order to strengthen the Shoreham flyover so it can carry 40-tonne lorries.

This is a plan of such monumental stupidity it beggars belief. Someone should make it clear that we need 40-tonne trucks thundering through the Sussex suburbs like we need a hole in the head.

Is this the same highways agency that is digging up the A259 coast road (yet again)?

Is there some sinister move afoot to bring the county's traffic to a total standstill so we are unable to express our dissatisfaction in the forthcoming local elections?

Oh, I forgot - the highways bureaucrats are non-elected, so we can't get rid of them.

-Christopher Read, St Leonards Gardens, Hove