Are we paying for this constant paranoia or are the councillors paying for this out of their own pockets? It would be interesting to know.

As for their looking for someone to blame for the icy conditions I think that I can point them in the right direction because I too suffered as soon as I came out of my back door, walked down my drive and down Wothorpe Road to the Meadows.

All paths were icy. It was just as bad on the Meadows foot bridges and the path across the Meadows (perhaps I should not mention these as I understand they are the responsibility of our own council).

I think that they should be pursuing two possible culprits.

The first is Mother Nature. Some would probably point to a being of indeterminate sex, called by many names. He has been disowned by all insurance companies as a culprit as they use the disclaimer an 'act of God'.

As the Creator of all things, even Mother Nature, he is beyond our earthly legal actions, perhaps being more responsive to prayer.

I know the council meetings start with a prayer so the councillors could seek advice at the start of their next meeting.

George Hetherington
Kettering Road,
Stamford



I KNOW from personal experience just how slippery these slabs can get.

In my opinion anyone with a modicum of common sense would have hesitated in buying them for their own patio areas for the very reason that they are completely smooth and therefore liable to be slippery in wet or icy conditions.

During the completion of the £1,4m project for Red Lion Square and Sheep Market concerns were raised by many people, including at least two well-known personalities within the building trade locally.

One expressed his concerns to a member of Stamford Vision, the other attempted to organise a meeting with the project manager from Lincolnshire County Council. To my knowledge, neither received a response.

Stamford Town Council voted in favour of the Gateway Project prima facie because they did not want to lose the £1.4m.

The body which selected these particular slabs for Red Lion Square and Sheep Market should bear the responsibility for anyone injuring themselves in icy weather.

Otherwise it would appear we have two options: 1 Extend the handrail from Horseshoe Lane up into Red Lion Square and down into the Sheepmarket; 2 Replace these smooth slabs with rough-faced ones.

Let us all consider how we would react if our (elderly) relative slipped, sustained broken bones, went to hospital and never recovered from the shock.

CLAIRE COLTON
Exeter Gardens,
Stamford