Martin Roberts’ letter in (Oxford Mail, January 19) makes an observation about Cornmarket that I’ve long thought of as a measure of the incompetence of the local councils over the decades.

I remember back in the early 70s when it was decided to make it a pedestrian area – apart, that is, from the buses that were to share it with the pedestrians.

It was duly paved, and then heads were scratched in a confused, Oliver Hardy kind of way as the paving stones puzzlingly became covered in engine oil, then cracked from the weight of the double-deckers, not to mention that people were constantly taken aback by the sudden surprise appearance of a bus growling over their unsuspecting shoulders.

Since then, very little has improved Cornmarket, in spite of various expensive schemes. But it’s okay because attention has been turned to all the other Oxford streets where an abundant harvest of hideous, expensive and distracting street furniture has sprung up to soak up any extra silly little pennies the coffers’ corners might be hiding – including those despised and pointless 20mph speed signs, and a load of painted stuff on roads.

Oh, and don’t forget the great idea to make Hythe Bridge Street and Park End Street two-way and the attractive alterations to Frideswide Square: so good for cutting traffic congestion, and so easy on the eye.

Now some of the most valuable local assets, such as the libraries and the recycling centres, are to be slashed.

The cost of parking has reached epic proportions, business rates have soared to the detriment of local businesses, and council tax is constantly on the up.

So where is the money?

It can’t all have gone on traffic wardens, councillors’ expenses and Icelandic banking investments.

PIPPA GWILLIAM, Pound Field Close,Oxford