IN my working life I had responsibility for housing and other developments which would create a new public road so I can refer to correspondence about local roads authorities and their powers regarding private streets (Letters, January 9).

Every aspect is covered in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 together with some minor subsequent additions. Section 21 requires all housebuilders to have a construction consent before they commence house building. This consists of the local roads authority’s approval of the layout and construction standards.

Thereafter the builder must lodge a bond or security before work starts on any house. Failure to do so is an offence. The local authority has considerable powers if it chooses to use them.

There is also a time scale for completion, together with a “guarantee” time to ensure adequate standard. There is also a default position that the bond would be used by the roads authority to complete the works to their adoptable standard if the builder fails or takes excessive time.

However, before 1984 private streets were a constant problem as a local roads authority had no power or legal right to incur expense in upgrading to adoptable standard a private street. I agree with Dave Sutton’s other observations.

J A Taylor,

19 The Fieldings, Dunlop.