I cannot believe the amount of taxpayers' money that was spent refurbishing Western Road in Brighton yet again.

While I appreciate that the main part of the road had to be re-laid to get rid of the farcical bumps and turns that were introduced not many years ago, there was no reason whatsoever why the stretch of Western Road from Preston Street to Montpelier Road should have been dug up and re-laid.

It had no speed bumps, was in perfect condition and would have lasted another 20 years. The expense was wholly unnecessary and a scurrilous waste of money.

When I asked one of Tarmac's drivers why the Waitrose stretch of road was again being re-laid he said the highways department has plenty of money in hand and has to spend it to meet its target because otherwise next year's spending allocation will be reduced.

As a quantity surveyor who dealt with government departments 40 years ago, I used to hear this statement regularly and was not amused that such gross abuse of funds continues to this day.

Our council tax burden must be reduced and that will not happen under the ever-increasing employment of sack- and inflation-proofed civil servants and free-spending, demigod department-heads.

-Howard Bayley, Brighton