The contrast couldn’t be greater. This has been a running sore for months, and I have almost given up hope of getting a straight and reliable answer, despite the Mayor seeking to help me. It just isn’t good enough. I’m going to give it one more go and, if that fails, I will seek disclosure of all the relevant documents through the Freedom of Information Act so that I can get to the bottom of this mess. That will be time consuming for the Council, but, if they cannot do the job properly in the first place, there is no alternative.

Frankly, it appears as if some officers are treating the local residents with contempt. You can often see Council vehicles themselves parked on the yellow lines, wrongly and usually causing an obstruction, as the occupants go shopping. A marked police car has been seen parked in the middle of the bus lay-by as its driver bought a sandwich. It is difficult to blame other drivers for ignoring the parking restrictions when all of this happens. But they are there for a reason - a safety reason!

I have been thinking about this. Where officers have done a good job, as with the railings, it might be right to name them, so that they can take the credit. Equally, it might be right to name those who have failed to get to grips with problems. Watch this space!