SIR – Further to B Barraclough’s letter (T&A, January 1) in which he quoted D Walker saying in his letter (T&A, December 22) that the Japanese built a new bridge to replace one destroyed by that dreadful tsunami in three days, I recall that on our way to visit Gibraltar from our hotel on the Costa del Sol, we passed workmen resurfacing a road about the length of Bradford’s Broadway. On our return we couldn’t believe the job had been completed.

B Barraclough said our lot take three years to improve a motorway. I couldn’t possibly comment.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford