last week’s Journals (Exmouth and Budleigh editions) are full of complaints about the snow-and ice-covered roads, trapping elderly residents in their homes for days on end. Mr Hugh Williams is asking for an official review of local authorities’ responses to extreme weather.

The following article appeared in last week’s Sidmouth Herald: “While he remains trapped in Exmouth this week, trying to get the 157 bus back on the road to return to Sidmouth, Devon County Councillor Stuart Hughes, a DJ on BayFMRadio, has organised a snow plough and gritter to clear residential roads in Sidmouth today, Wednesday (Dec 22).”

The article then lists the names of some 25 - yes, I have counted them - 25 residential roads in Sidmouth which were included (eg Salcombe Hill Road, Glen Road, Manor Road, Manstone Avenue, Broadway, Peasland Road, etc).

Readers who took photographs of the snow ploughs were invited to send them to the Sidmouth Herald.

How many residential roads elsewhere in East Devon received the same treatment?

Cllr Stuart Hughes appears to have concentrated on looking after his own “patch”, perhaps with an eye on the May 2011 local elections.

Mr Hugh Williams is quite right in demanding a public inquiry “to call officials and elected representatives to account”.

Anita Jennings,

Budleigh Salterton.