In response to your article about attempts to take North Finchley upmarket suffering a setback with the green light for a new hostel (Hostel scheme is given go-ahead', October 25).

Does anyone agree with me that North Finchley is a mess? It was such a pleasant place when I came to this area 12 years ago, but now it is a disgrace. Apart from the litter and graffiti, the utilities companies seem to have 'carte blanche' to dig up roads and pavements whenever they wish and then leave the mess unfinished and unattended for weeks.

Over six weeks ago the pavement in North Finchley High Road, near Thomas Cook travel agent, was dug up. There are still barriers and cones lying about, as well as a broken kerbstone.Gainsborough Road has had the pavement, kerb and part of the road surrounded by a barricade, but no-one has been seen working there for at least three weeks.

A hole was dug in the pavement at the High Road end of Lodge Lane and left for ages before another hole was dug and left.

Why is the work never finished? I have walked past at different times of day and no-one is working there. I have complained to the council, but I am told that they have no authority to impose fines on work not completed on time.

They can only phone the managers and ask for a progress report.

This is ridiculous.

In no other country in Europe would it be tolerated and probably not in many other towns in the UK.

Rina Ben-Ami

Woodside Park Road, North Finchley

October 30, 2001 17:05