Wayland van Hyldyck Smith, of Forde Parke, Newton Abbot, writes:
I read with horror that those most expensive granite setts outside the library are to be replaced after only six months' use.
I like to think that, individually, we do our best to obviate waste of any kind, but when I read of the incredible waste of public money (which is ours, indirectly) by Devon County Council, which should be looking after our interests as to where and how they dip into the bottomless purse when handing out their contracts etc, I cringe in horror.
They designated £2million for the Newton Abbot enhancement scheme, and specifically £26,000 for the laying of the expensive granite setts outside the library. They are to be ripped up and replaced at a further cost of £19,000 as they have been 'shaken loose' by buses – something, they say, which is a problem they had not envisaged.
Surely the engineers kept a check on the type of grouting, the levels, the hardcore, the surface upon which these setts were to have been laid, before sanctioning such expensive items in the first place? nearly all the mediaeval cities priding themselves in restoration to the original after war damage etc, have far greater and heavier traffic flow than we do, and yet their setts, cobbles, paving, much of which has been down hundreds of years, show no signs of being 'shaken loose'.
Would some engineer please come forward and explain why Newton Abbot should be the only one to suffer this unenvisaged problem. Can he assure us that the new surface will not suffer?
Would it not have been cheaper on such a short stretch of road to have used solid stone in the first place?