Upon my recent and first visit to Enfield, I could not help notice that my home city of Birmingham and Enfield share an unfortunate similarity. It seems both respective councils have take the retrograde step of allowing Tarmac to be used for pavement repairs.

Since Birmingham City Council outsourced the paving repair contract to a private company, cheap unsightly Tarmac is used for the majority of paving repairs. Even whole stretches of perfectly good slabs have been removed and Tarmac laid. What were once neat and attractive slabbed pavements, now resemble something like a chequered chessboard. From what I saw of Enfield, the same applies.

It seems no expense is spared on paving in our towns/city centres, yet rate-payers in the suburbs have to contend with ugly Tarmac for paving.

Perhaps the irony of me writing this letter to your newspaper is not to say what a great time I had visiting Enfield (although I did, and the people I met were very helpful and friendly, and they understood my Brummie accent), but I find my memory of Enfield and the reason for this letter is to criticise your paving repairs.

It makes me wonder how many other visitors to both Enfield and Birmingham go away with the same impression.

I appreciate money has to be saved, but it is so short-sighted of both councils to cut costs this way. Both residents and visitors want a pleasing and enhanced environment to live, work and shop.

Mr G Grant

Coleshill Road, Birmingham