THE county council is asking for suggestions to help save money. Surely this is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted?

A colossal sum has already been mis-spent on fatuous transport schemes, such as filling in the Headington subway with concrete.

The London Road debacle is an example of the worst excesses of the highways department. The council professes that it is keen to curb its carbon footprint, yet the tons of concrete used to fill in the subway have a very high carbon footprint indeed.

Concrete is a high-carbon product and this act flies in the face of the stated low-carbon policy. It was not an eco-friendly venture and, furthermore, the traffic flow has now been impeded.

This is because the hundreds of pedestrians who were formerly below the surface in the nicely painted subway, are now on the road above and continuously press the stop button on the crossing lights. This farce is worthy of a Carry On film.

All that Headington needs is a new filter arrow on the traffic lights at the very dangerous Windmill Road junction. Yet, inexplicably, this demolition derby of a junction has been ignored in the extravagant revamp.

It is small wonder the traders are so upset that their customers are now staying away.

SUSAN THOMAS Magdalen Road Oxford