SIR,

Further to the comments by Mr Roy Nicholas on the county council energy wastage ('Put out that light!) I would add that besides a lack of direction from above, a lot of the blame lies with the council office employees themselves.

It is a well known fact that the first thing that councils do is to make themselves comfortable and Monmouthshire County Council is a perfect example, with its army of cossetted indoor workers - subsidised meals for employees in shirt sleeves on the coldest days; a bar and free parking while the rest of us have to pay.

On a recent visit to the ladies' toilet in County Hall, my friend could not see across the room - one of the pampered employees had left the hot water tap full on - running boiling water down the drain.

OAP, Monmouth

(Name and address supplied)