I recently reported some damaged road surfaces between short bike journeys into Otley and was surprised when within a week some had been filled in.

However, this work was clearly only temporary and an example of crisis management and cost cutting that local authorities apply to local transport problems. One damaged surface in the middle of Otley bridge over a manhole cover was carried out hurriedly by shovel from the back of a truck, presumably to minimise traffic hold ups on what is already a very congested road.

But unfortunately, even to any untrained ‘do-it- yourselfer’, it is obvious that putting tarmac onto a loose metal cover that has constant loads passing over it will immediately break it up. And that is what happened. So within hours of the work being done it was actually worse than it had been before the “repair”. Such crisis management is a false economy and as in this case involves repeated work when the whole surface needs to be done and the manhole cover raised to the level of the new surface.

At the same time I have asked our councillors and MP to do something about road safety for cyclists in and around Otley as the situation is becoming more and more dangerous. This is caused partly by the narrowness of the roads, increasing volume of traffic and the resentful attitude of some motorists against cyclists. Some do their best to force cyclists off the road and block the inside lanes to obstruct cyclists. It is not until you ride a bike do you realise how many psychopaths are driving.

If the authorities are really serious in their proclamations to promote cycling, they should take positive action to prioritise cyclists and set up dedicated cycle lanes next to pavements. If this means more yellow box exclusion zones then that is what should be done.

There is much political hot air about the environment, energy resources and health but when it comes to practicalities, action and cash are in short supply. I do believe that our councillors are well intentioned, but the system prevents them from being effective. May I ask that the local cycling clubs, which have now grown to a substantial size, to step in and demand action before someone is killed?

Money should be spent on local infra- structure transport systems, not grandiose schemes like the HS2 rail system.

Malcolm Naylor, Otley