Are governments in breach of their laws?

JOHN Flynn’s letter (“Continuing problems of unadopted roads.” Opinion, March 15) demonstrated how Mr Flynn applied independent thought to a problem that can only worsen.

His letter reminded me of a 1970s government survey incorporating every local authority in England (I’m sure it didn’t include Wales). The survey encapsulated the physical condition of some 800.000 miles of roads throughout the nation, whereby all officialdom involved had agreed to neglect some 300.000 miles. The controversy was to maintain just 500.000 miles of roads!

Miles of roads in large counties like Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, would be at the mercy of the elements. At that time an, outcry was expected, but there was not one word of public dissention.

Just think of the billions of pounds governments have handled since road fund licensing was introduced in 1920. During 1939, the coalition government voted that road taxation should be spent funding the war effort. Considering the national plight, it was fair.

After the war successive governments lacked a plausible excuse for spending road fund monies to suit their political ambitions. Strangely enough, the 1920 Act enabling vehicle road taxation was never repealed. Since 1920 masses of statute legislation has been introduced covering motor vehicle taxation, but politicians in their infinite wisdom left the original Act live, putting governments in breach of their own legislation.

Readers are aware that untaxed motor vehicles are removed from public roads. However, neither a motoring organisation nor a charity has litigated against any government for not spending vehicle taxation revenue on road networks. This synopsis is a reason why rural roads particularly are in an appalling state! It also offers a classic example of motorists being used as cash cows!

Nigel J Starbuck

Bingham