repairs, Minister Alex Scott has revealed.

He was speaking in response to a Letter to the Editor, complaining of lengthy delays at accident sites at Flatts Bridge in Hamilton Parish and Harbour Road in Warwick.

The letter writer also took aim at improvements at the Barkers Hill, Devonshire roundabout, saying they had reduced the two lanes down to one -- and slowed traffic.

The writer also suggested changing the name of the department to "Government's overstaffed slow working department'' and called on Mr. Scott to appoint someone to ensure projects get done within a "reasonable'' time.

Mr. Scott defended the department, but apologised for any inconvenience to the public for the delays.

"We apologise to everybody for the slow delays and feel they were not quick enough,'' he said. "The PLP Government has not scaled back our road repairs.

"There are 110 miles of public roads and 150 miles of private estate roads.

The Ministry is required to address the length and breadth of the Island.'' Mr. Scott added: "Yes, I am concerned (about the delays) but you are quite right, there are accidents every day.

"We actively monitor road repairs every day. We apologise but they should know we are on the job. Yes, manpower is stretched, but we are certainly not overlooking these things.'' On the Barkers Hill roundabout, Mr. Scott said this week he told Ministry officials to revise the approaches to the roundabout again, in response to public criticism and his own observation.

He said the original intention at the frequent accident spot was to reconfigure the approach so that motorists could not race through the roundabout, cutting corners, but that slowed traffic too much.

The Ministry has also released a more detailed notice to truckers and residents on the proper disposal of commercial waste loads to the Island's various depots.

Mr. Scott said the revised notice was in accordance with international agreements on the disposal of harmful gases and gathers certain types of waste together for easier disposal.

The advertisement, which has appeared in The Royal Gazette , is also clear on the $300 penalty for discarding dangerous waste or pollutants at a facility where workers are not equipped to properly handle it.

Examples of this include taking flammable liquids to the Tynes Bay Incinerator or Devon Springs Recycling Centre or having metals mixed with horticultural waste at the Marsh Folly facility.

TRAFFIC TFC