IN these times of local council belt-tightening it is crucial to ensure that value-for-money is achieved in all council contracts.

Repairs to potholes on the roads are hard enough to come by and so had been particularly heartening to notice that on my daily cycle commute some of the major ones had been attended to about six months ago.

Alas, the quality of repair is brought into question because on the majority of the re-laid tarmac (various locations), new potholes (some quite seriously threatening cyclist and motorbike rider alike) have re-appeared.

The question that needs to be asked as to whether anyone from the council oversees the workmanship and signs it off as “made good.”

One would also hope that clauses to contracts issued allow for the urgent recalling of contractors to complete the works to the acceptable standard.

The council must understand that they have a serious obligation to be vigilant when spending the peoples’ money.

ERIC SCIACALUGA, Bournemouth