I AM dismayed by the state of the city streets. Having just visited towns and cities in Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Estonia, you can’t help but notice that they are all spotlessly clean.

I have just read that the council is employing a director of resources. I would like to know what he thinks when he enters the town hall.

I pass there several times a week and if I worked there (and was younger) I would start an hour earlier and clean up the pavement.

A director of a firm I once worked for did just that. He would sweep around the main entrance as employees entered.

As I was told, first impressions do count and the town hall should stand out and show an example in this first class city.

Can the council state who is responsible for cleaning the streets, and why it is not happening?

Outside the Green Dragon Hotel last Wednesday night, there was paper and litter all over the pavement. It looked as if somebody had just emptied a bin.

There were two council workers standing among the rubbish, but it was still there later.

ALAN CLIFFE St Owen Court, Mill Street, Hereford