THE letter Trying to minimise utility work impact' (Shuttle, March 6) from four Conservative councillors was bound to produce some political sparring which was seen in The Shuttle the following week.

However, what struck me about the original letter was that some of the blame was laid at the Government's door for making utility companies replace ageing water mains.' It is a disgrace that it was necessary for the Government to allegedly take such action, and we should all be glad that this long-overdue upgrading of the infrastructure is now taking place.

The supply system has been in private hands for something like 20 years so the companies have had long enough to take action by means of a rolling programme which would have avoided so much work being necessary in so many places at the same time.

G JONES Stourport Road, Bewdley