I was aghast to read that Hertfordshire County Council paid £20,000 for a new carpet (‘Council pays 20k for new carpet’, Borehamwood & Elstree Times, March 6). In the same week, stories appeared about the council papers admitting bus cuts would isolate the elderly and the shadow minister visiting the library to discuss cuts. In the Your Views section of your paper, letters were published about the fate of Aldenham Reservoir; the increase in council tax this year and the ongoing saga of bin collections and no time to deal with contaminated waste.

How can anybody in local government deem it right to allocate thousands of pounds on a new carpet, of whatever type, during this time of so-called austerity.

While financial decisions our councillors have made mean cuts to services for the elderly, vulnerable and those generally most in need within our community, the county council votes as Kate Lowen said in a memo to “brighten up and suppress noise in a main thoroughfare”. Quoting from other communications, the council has sighted “safety reasons” and “being a hazard” as justification for this expenditure.

May I point out to the councillors the many “safety hazards” faced by thousands of people in Borehamwood and other areas of the county that should constitute a much higher priority:- l Urgently fixing potholes that cause damage to vehicles and risk the lives of cyclists, and in some cases, drivers and passengers in the vehicles.

l Repairing street lights, some of which have not been on at all for weeks. Also, restoring street lighting across the county at night to make it safe for people to walk around and prevent criminals having hours each night to operate in, relatively safe from possible detection.

l Keeping our bus routes that connect many people who want to remain part of our community and rely on public transport to enjoy various activities. Reductions to bus services adversely impact upon the elderly and less able-bodied people who do not drive and do not want to be cut off because of where they live. l Allocating time for those collecting our waste to at least try once to speak with a property’s occupant about any contaminated bins and hopefully items can then be removed and so the bins emptied. In many instances, it is somebody else that puts such material into the bins and the household suffers by having to wait weeks to have the bin collected.

I am sure that your readers can put forward their own lists as well.

Please could the staff at county hall possibly manage in these difficult times with the existing flooring and spend the £20,700 involved more wisely.

Stephen Miller

Address supplied