Dear Editor , I read with interest the article in Newton News regarding re-surfacing of the roads in Ashfield and although the writer seems happy with their result, I must comment on how unhappy I and several other people are about the resurfacing work carried out two weeks ago in Oakfield. The condition of the edge of the new road outside my property in Oakfield is absolutely terrible. The actual main body of the road is ok but the edge of the new surface is a whole one inch higher than the footpath in parts. One of my neighbours actually commented about this to the workmen on the day, asking ‘since when was the road supposed to be higher than the footpath?’ and the answer he received was ‘we are only doing what we have been told to do’. Unless this is fixed, there is a potentially serious accident waiting to happen. The work was supposed to be carried out over two days and as requested, people moved their vehicles ready for commencement on the Wednesday morning. However, the workmen didn’t turn up until Thursday, hence the work was done in one day and it is obvious that it has been a rushed and amateurish job. Apart from the edgings being unsuitable at certain points, the road surfacing was too high at all the gutters. As a result of this on Monday this week, workmen turned up with equipment and have drilled out a six inch border around all the gutters, and placed cones over them until they get back to fix the botch-up. I wrote to Durham County Council who replied to my complaint saying this has been passed to the Highways Section to investigate – sooner rather than later I hope. Name & address supplied