I WAS interested to read C Carter s letter in which he criticises the somewhat profligate spending of Huntingdon councillors. Is he right? He (and others) may wish to know the cost of the scaffolding that has surrounded Pathfinder House for almost three

I WAS interested to read C Carter's letter in which he criticises the somewhat profligate spending of Huntingdon councillors. Is he right?

He (and others) may wish to know the cost of the scaffolding that has surrounded Pathfinder House for almost three years. Up to the time of my enquiry in January, the cost to us had been £148,000. It is currently costing us £1,908.20 per month.

Why is it there? I was told: "There have been structural faults identified with the exterior of Pathfinder House for several years. These include loose bricks, spalling concrete to the support rib for the infill brick panels and cracks to the brick panels. Repairs had been carried out but these could not stop the problems. It was also identified that in strong winds there was a possibility of panels being loosened due to a lack of lateral restraint. In order to ensure the safety of the building, it was decided to erect scaffolding to the building to support the exterior panels and to allow access to the fascia to carry out repairs."

I am not a building engineer, but I fail to see how the present scaffolding arrangement can stop bricks and concrete falling from the building. There is no catch-netting to protect either pedestrians or cars on the ring road, so the risk cannot be that high otherwise Health and Safety would have been involved long before now. There are also no walking boards in place, so I guess very few repairs are being, or have been, carried out.

Incidentally, the scaffolding is to remain in place until the building is finally demolished. When? No idea. Perhaps the cost is money well spent. I leave that for the readers to judge.

MARTYN REDMORE, Owl End, Great Stukeley