FOLLOWING last week s report about the poor state of some roads in Comet country, drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists have contacted us with their own complaints about potholes, indents and ripped tarmac. The first complaint we received was from Stevenage

FOLLOWING last week's report about the poor state of some roads in Comet country, drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists have contacted us with their own complaints about potholes, indents and ripped tarmac.

The first complaint we received was from Stevenage resident Peter Ingram-Tedd, who put his case forward for Mossbury Way as the "worst road in Comet country".

He said: "The section from Lodge Farm School to Dryden Crescent is full of indents and potholes. These occur at most of the drain covers and tarmac joints along both edges of the road, usually next to traffic-calming bollards.

"Your photographs of St Michael's Road, Hitchin, and Ridge Avenue , Letchworth, are nothing compared to Mossbury Way, particularly near to the zebra crossing.

"It's very dangerous to ride a bicycle down here. Should I risk falling off as I clatter over the pothole or should I take my chances and dodge in front of the car behind as he squeezes past the bollard? It certainly makes for an exciting ride."

Concerns about safety have also been made about another thoroughfare in Stevenage, Hertford Road.

A motorcyclist, who often travels along there, believes it was supposed to have been resurfaced already and he finds it "dangerous to drive on the surface which has worn away".

In Letchworth GC, Julia Goodwin gave a damning verdict on Hertfordshire Highways when she claimed they did not even know her road existed.

Mrs Goodwin said: "Our road is the forgotten road. On contacting Highways at Hertfordshire County Council they had every road listed beginning with Berkeley, like Close, Avenue etc, but not Road.

"Everyone who uses it is disgusted, considering the high band council tax that most properties are in. It is now getting very dangerous for cyclists and cars alike."

Another resident, who lives in Hitchin, sent photographs in showing the poor state of Oughtonhead Way.

The resident said: "For over 10 years the council has simply patched this road time after time yet they could have saved themselves countless hours by simply re-laying the road."

A spokesman for Hertfordshire County Council responded to residents' concerns.

She said: "Oughtonhead Way, Hitchin, is scheduled to be resurfaced this financial year, 2006/07, under the Highways Extra Programme.

"Although works are not currently scheduled for the other roads, next year's programmes are still being developed so they may be included when the programmes are finalised.

"We have a rolling programme of road repairs to maintain the roads to an acceptable standard, but we do have to work with limited resources, and have to prioritise roads with the greatest need."

# The Comet will be publishing more examples of our crumbling roads in next week's paper.

Is your road the worst in Comet country? Email The Comet at editorial@thecomet.net and tell us all about it.