MOST of the roads in Southampton are in a lamentable state.

As a cyclist, motor cyclist and car driver I have to spend my daily journeys dodging the holes which are generally caused by poor repairs after the surface has been dug up to mend pipes, lay cables etc. Why can the city council not enforce proper repairs?

Surely if the utility companies dig up roads to make repairs to their infrastructure, they should be responsible for repairing the roads to their previous state, and should the trench they dig, or hole they create subside, then they must be made to return and carry out proper repairs.

If they do not then the council should be repairing the road to a high standard and billing the utility companies.

We hear of massive profits made by these companies, apparently at our expense from the direct charges, but it would also seem they are profiting from cutting corners on repairs.

Name and address supplied PAT Green, network coordinator for Southampton City Council, said: "We carry out random inspections of the work done by utility companies and other organisations on Southampton's roads.

"They are required to return the road to its original condition and if they don't we do charge them for this work to be done. We recognise the importance of maintaining a good transport network and are increasing the number of inspectors in place to check work carried out on our roads.

"It is also important that residents let us know about road works that do not come up to standard so that we can contact the appropriate utility company and put this right.'' If you know of recent road works that you think should be inspected call Actionline free on 0800 5 19 19 19.