I WAS most interested to read the continuing correspondence about the small disaster that is the mini roundabout, Plymouth Road/Brook Lane, in last week?s Times.

At a time when council tax is increasing by another 6% (index 136 versus 01/02) and in the face of a nil response from the powers that be on accident history at the former T-junction or on veiled threats of action against motorists, it appears from Mr Norris?s research that the authorities are probably prepared to sit this one out. This is in spite of growing evidence of unsafety and continued complaint.

We will probably have to wait until some bright spark realises that the new layout is causing trouble and I can imagine we will probably have to revert to a T-junction. Presumably at our expense ? again. But, hey, what is a mere £31,000!

C D Park, Westlake Farm House, Lifton

MR Paul Marshall, senior traffic engineer with Devon County Council, seems vexed (Times, March 25) that his magnificent, empty, paved space in Bedford Square (not our idea in the first place), is now often used by vehicles seeking a space for temporary parking.

He must also be vexed that the imaginative new offset Brook Lane roundabout near the cemetery on Plymouth Road already threatens to become a black spot for accidents (and, of course, that the wonderful road ?constriction? scheme for Tavistock Gateway has not been the success which his department hoped for).

Never mind, Mr Marshall and his underlings have been kept in employment and our councillors have sanctioned the payment of millions of pounds of our money for these (not to mention other such) prestigious improvements. When will he, they and we learn to put time and money to better use?

Daphne G Medley, Artiscombeleigh, Mill Hill