Monday's letters: A good neighbour... and appalling call-out cover in the cold

The other day, we had a leak so I rang the emergency number at 2.30pm. When I finally got to speak to someone, they told me we would receive a phone call within the hour.

What a relief – we had no water or electricity or heat, but it was going to be all right.

Ninety minutes later, we hadn't heard anything so I phoned them again to be told the original call hadn't been put through but it would be put through now as urgent.

I did get a call about an hour latter, only to be told that it could take up to 48 hours for a plumber to come out as they were busy. We were all very cold now and fed up.

I told the operator that we had no water, electricity or heat and my son is disabled and I have just come out of hospital and we were all very cold. Her response was "go and stay at a friend's house".

I can't even get down the stairs, let alone pack up my son and two dogs at 7pm on a freezing night. Eventually, after a lot of pleading, they agreed to send a plumber. At 8.30pm, a plumber did come, who told us he was the only one working and he had another 14 calls to make.

He asked for the water to be turned on, he heard the water running down the wall, and stated we had to get a builder to take down the ceiling because he didn't know where the leak was coming from. Within 10 minutes of arriving, he left.

My husband went to a neighbour to ask for some water. When he got here, he went into the loft and within five minutes he had found the problem capped off the pipe and got us our water and heating back on. What a hero, a truly remarkable neighbour.

But what about the appalling service home emergency cover that you can't use in an emergency?

From: Michelle Middleton, Biddenden Road, Pendas Fields, Leeds.

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From: Coun Andrew Carter, Leader of the Conservative Group, Civic Hall, Leeds.

THE news that the Labour/Green administration at Leeds City Council is to slash the highways maintenance budget is very unwelcome, although not surprising. It is particularly unfortunate as it comes during another harsh winter that will cause havoc to road surfaces of the city.

The previous administration, of which I was joint leader, was forced to spend a huge amount of money on highway maintenance – 141m over five years – partly in an attempt to undo years of neglect under the previous Labour administration.

In 2004, we inherited a backlog of 61m of maintenance. I suppose it is unsurprising therefore that the Labour- Green administration has made these cuts to highways maintenance.

I regret to say that we shall see all sorts of work continuing to be undertaken by our highways department which most of us would regard as not being a priority, while the importance of maintenance is downgraded yet again. The council should ensure that our road surfaces are not neglected. Along with bin collections, another issue that the Labour-Green administration has handled particularly badly, roads and footpath surfaces are important to all residents of Leeds.

It is imperative that the millions we spent on road maintenance is not wiped out.

From: Ian Smith, Colston Close, Bradford.

"LESSONS will be learnt" is a tiresome phrase being increasingly used to hide incompetence, naivety, lack of skill, knowledge and judgment.

The Football Association, England's cricketers, rugby union management, Heathrow, the rail network, Parliament, in fact just about all those who expect our respect admit to having to learn lessons from what has to be their bungling.

Maybe Vince Cable in his new role as Mr Bean has now fallen into this category of learner.

High profile people receive very nice pay for what are supposed to be high levels of ability. If they really think that lessons will be learnt, then perhaps they should accept failure as a professional and go back to school.

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold, North Yorkshire.

WHAT further proof is needed to confirm the decline of the UK into Third World status following the saga at Heathrow, St Pancras and countless roads around the country which have all succumbed to the snow and ice and the apparent inability of the services to meet the problems swiftly and efficiently.

Compounded with this dire situation is the disgraceful decision of the two senior immigration judges representing the UTIAC to allow the failed Iraqi asylum seeker and criminal to remain in Britain – against the wishes of the UK Border Agency and Paul Houston, the father of his daughter, was killed by this criminal. Who is running the country – the judges, EHRC, Brussels and the EU compounded by the antics of the irresponsible and militant trade union leaders who are threatening strikes, in addition to the revolting students?