Sir, The problems caused by the roadworks on the High Street have made life in the city hell - as confirmed by the letter last week from someone trying to use the No 4 bus service, which passes through these works. The same disruption was caused by works at Green Road, and before that on the Cowley and Abingdon Roads, all for one simple reason - works are carried out like an office operation, 8am to 3pm, weekdays only.

Why in the world are they not done at the very least from 6pm until 6am? Or better still, 24 hours per day, seven days per week? By whom, or by what process, is the decision taken to disrupt the travel and the working lives of so many people? Other councils and other institutions have realised that such projects can be achieved by these means, more quickly, at least as efficiently and without the hidden costs of the present choices which appear in no budget sheet. Why can this not be done in Oxford? Instead of frustrated grumblings, why do Oxford's citizens not demand an explanation of the perceived merits of the schemes chosen and the contracts awarded? It is done with our money. Can we not have a debate on this subject in these columns?

Finally we would like to know if short-hours working, and the outrageous disruption this causes, will be repeated when the strategically vital Headington corridor is re-engineered?

Noam Bleicher (Mr), Oxford