Sir, - New Tarmac surfaces have been laid very recently on certain stretches of road. I have experience of two. These are: between Laragh and Hollywood across the Wicklow Gap; and on the coast road between Newcastle and Rathnew. These surfaces are extremely smooth and offer tyres very little grip, as evidenced by the already numerous skid marks visible.
The council must rectify this potentially lethal mistake by laying the proper, safe standard of Tarmac on all of these stretches. Likewise, the new road repairs programme just announced must be carried out using safe surfaces. - Yours, etc.,
From Stuart Smyth
Killoughter Lane, Ashford, Co Wicklow.