WITH cutbacks in services, and a two per cent increase in council tax in the pipeline, St Helens Council is crying poverty.

Monthly emptying of green bins and overflowing dog bins are just the tip of the iceberg. However, there is one accurate measure of local coffers they seem to think we've overlooked.

So, excluding work by utility companies, can anyone explain the ridiculous amount of non-essential roadworks taking place as the end of the financial year looms closer? I can't remember it ever being this bad. While I applaud some things, like the installation of LED street-lighting, the likely presence of frost suggests to me it is not the ideal time of year to be resurfacing roads.

Neil Morrell, address submitted