In the teeming rain the other Saturday I joined the Ludlow-bound visitors trekking from the Smithfield car park towards the Town centre.

Lower Galdeford was awash and the cars were spraying the pedestrians, adding to their misery.

Why all the water?

All the surface water gullies and drains are desperately in need of proper maintenance – the drain by the police station is blocked and overgrown with weed, the next one by the Mascall Centre is blocked, the water flow misses the next one and so does the next.

Every drain or gulley up to The Queens needs attention, and so do those in Tower Street and the Bullring.

A large puddle is conveniently placed by the post box for anyone wishing to post a letter.

Drains are blocked and overflowing at Bull Ring and up King Street and so on!

To add to the discomfort of our visitors, the majority of gutters and downpipes in the town centre are blocked with weeds and leak on to the heads of the shoppers below.

The mainly absent landlords are clearly more concerned with raising rents than maintaining their buildings.

The immense horse-chestnut tree outside the Mascall Centre is dangerously overgrown and the low branches are at umbrella-height, camouflaging the recently re-located bus stop.

Why the whinge?

Responsibility for all these matters rests with Shropshire Council and is a simple matter of routine.

A significant proportion of council tax is paid to contractors to ensure that our streets are clean and safe.

The first glimpse of Ludlow for many visitors is not inspiring.

There is no excuse for such dereliction and these concerns must be prosecuted in Shrewsbury by those elected to represent Ludlow.

This has gone on too long.