Sir – As a frequent driver along the A420 between Oxford and Swindon I have become increasily baffled by the policy and decisions of highways in terms of repairs/resurfacing and ‘improvements’.

The most recent of which was to resurface a two-mile stretch in the Buckland area, although tar and chipping is really only painting over the cracks, not resurfacing.

The area appears to have been selected completely random, not starting or finishing at any significant point.

Just by chance, maybe, the area selected probably already had the best surface for several miles in either direction having undergone some work several months earlier.

The baffling part is a mile-long stretch left, during both sets of work, between the end of the Southmoor bypass and the Pusey turn. This short stretch has some quite serious defects along its centre line, a hazard for motorcyclists. Also in this area, a spate of tree removal took place in the wooded section just before Buckland travelling west, supposedly to remove the danger of falling trees in adverse weather, is this finished?

But the worst omision in the A420 upkeep seems to be the Shrivenham bypass section, this is in a state of serious decay, some poor attempts to patch it up have happened but when we get to winter this will deteriorate even further.

It may be that plans are in place to vastly improve this road and that I am premature in my concerns, but it would be nice to know this. Hopefully someone from highways can comment, as it would also be useful to know in advance of closures when making journeys.

Phil Neale, Appleton