Driving eastwards along Worthing seafront, I saw a large notice by Brooklands Park stating the Adur Bridge on the A27 was closed.

I knew this notice was out of date but how many drivers were persuaded instead to avoid the bypass and drive through Shoreham and Brighton?

Just before reaching the Adur Bridge, there were notices by the A27 warning drivers to keep in the left-hand lane because the right-hand lane ahead was closed.

When I came to the obstruction (a lorry and a gang of workmen), it was in the left-hand lane and drivers had to quickly adjust to drive along the supposedly closed outside lane.

Many is the time I have seen notices warning of long delays due to roadworks ahead, which were placed just after the last place drivers could turn off and take an alternative route.

I could write a book about many similar instances of how, at all levels, those running this country show themselves to be incapable of running a children's picnic.

Indeed, children have been forgotten and left behind on such official outings.

So how, in these circumstances, can the public have any confidence local councils have contingency plans in place to protect us from terrorist attacks or their aftermath?

Beds are often not available even to deal with victims of a minibus crash.

-Eric Blake, Cove Road, Littlehampton