SIR - I'm sure that those in charge at The Castle think they are doing a fine job even if their spending priorities are difficult to fathom as evidenced by an over-consumption of bottled water and spending £70,000 on consultancy fees to find a new chief executive who, as it turned out, was under their noses all along.

The justification was that this expenditure had to be incurred because the county council has a huge budget and it was necessary to spend £70,000 to make sure the right person was employed.

So I am hoping that all of this pampering and investment will have something to show for it and perhaps a start could be made by clearing the piles of rubbish from the verges and central reservation areas of the Chandler's Ford, Winchester and Whitchurch bypasses, which by any standard are in a filthy state.

It is difficult to feel any pride in living in Hampshire if those who have the responsibility for keeping the place clean take so little pride themselves!

Malcolm Leatherdale, Drove Road, Chilbolton.