In your issue of May 30, Patricia Beard of Eardisland wrote about the dreadful state of Leominster’s High Street.

The pavement and street surfaces are in a state of dangerous neglect indeed. I wrote an article in the last issue of “Leominster Pride” (Leominster Civic Society Newsletter) about this and it is frequently discussed at our monthly meetings.

Many of us who shop in the town centre to support our shops and businesses suffer this ordeal of road/pavement decrepitude weekly, getting soaked on rainy days by passing vehicles wobbling their way over sticking-up ironwork and adjacent sunken areas – no good for cars either. The narrow pavements afford no escape.

At the last meeting of the Civic Society our Chairman reported that most of his letters to Hereford Council go unanswered but much to his surprise he had at last received a reply on this very subject.

 He was told that there were regular and frequent inspections and the Inspector found everything in order. Poor man. What’s wrong with his eyesight!

Many of us have written individually to Hereford Council. Leominster Town Council has written, the Civic Society has written many times – all to no avail.

I must stress that this is the centre of our town, all of it in a Conservation Area.

I hope with our brand new Council we may at last see a more balanced approach and get some attention and money invested in our market towns. Past attitudes have not only treated us “natives” badly but considerably undermined our Tourist Trade.

May I suggest also that Ms Beard and any other readers living in what used to be Leominster District Council, join Leominster Civic Society, c/o Community Centre, School Road, Leominster, HR6 8NJ.

Maja Storey, Leominster