THE Citizen drew attention to the problems of uncoordinated roadworks, (January 13).

In truth, most of the so-called roadworks are not roadworks at all, but utility works to replace or repair underground pipes and cables.

Unfortunately, promises of co-operation and co-ordination rarely come to anything, all too frequently new road and pavement surfaces are attacked by contractors within weeks of their completion.

Surely the time has come for local councils to invest in underground utility ducting systems that can house all the separate channels, electricity, gas, water, telephone and other communication cables, and possibly sewerage and surface water as well.

If we can build platforms and pipelines to extract gas and oil from beneath the sea, then providing a utility ducting system with grid topped access points should be simple.

The cost of the investment could be recovered by local councils renting the duct space to the utility companies.

Indeed, there may well be substantial cost savings to the utility companies themselves if the digging-up and re-investment costs of roads and pavements can be avoided.

Plus, huge savings in motorist frustration, the cost of delays and the frequency at which roads and pavements would need to be resurfaced.

Ray Johnson, Ribbleton Ave, Ribbleton