David Townsend, of Lindridge Lane, Kingsteignton, writes:

Got a pothole? Is help near to hand?

Having read Cllr Hook's letter on the Devon CC's budget for 09/10 covering highways, I thought yes, potholes, you are doomed.

Then I thought, hold on a minute, there is an election coming.

this same councillor has come up with cash to sponsor an increase in recycling rates in Buckland and Milber, Newton Abbot.

I thought if you did not comply with this requirement you got fined, not rewarded.

Also coming through the door is Cllr Smith, resident of Teignmouth, who says he represents Kingsteignton on Devon CC and please fill in his questionnaire on the provision of a national/regional/local sports arena. I promise not to do with it what I did with the last one, that is, ignore it.

Back to the Budget. for 09/10 it is £79 million, which is an 11.48 per cent increase, so an extra £9 million. therefore, the six per cent must be earmarked purely for roads, which is £540,000 covering 8,000 miles or £67.50 per mile.

I await the political calculator to disprove the figures or come up with better ones.