Sir, Three weeks ago I contacted the Vale of the White Horse council helpline (motto: "don't be in the dark") to report the failure of two street lamps near my house. They still haven't been fixed.

In the past this would have been done within days.

How many council workers does it take to change a light-bulb? Or has money been diverted from the essential maintenance budget to help fund the traffic "improvements" in Abingdon town centre?

M. L. Jenkins, Shippon