I was interested to read that Kingston Council “thought about” fining Thames Water, after it dug up the road and blocked traffic for weeks on end.

“Thought about” it eh? Not for long, I’ll bet. Before you could say “sound bite” they’ll have been persuaded otherwise.

If a local driver momentarily strays into a bus lane, or unwittingly gets caught in a traffic box for more than a second, the council fines these tax paying individuals with fundamentalist zeal.

However, it is not so tough when it is dealing with a big corporation that has been criticised over its avoidance of its tax duties.

So the council appears to be ruthlessly fleecing the very people it is supposed to be offering a service to.

Meanwhile, the shareholders of Thames Water must be delighted with the “light touch regulation” offered by our representatives.

OK, so Thames Water can not be blamed for the state of the sewers. But the owners knew that when they bought the company.

I am sure the council, and its favourite enforcers, would have no hesitation in pointing this out if you or I broke any regulation, no matter how trifling the transgression or disproportionate the fine.

Who are they working for? It certainly does not look like they act in our interests.

Nick Booth; Kingston

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