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The discovery of a gas leak outside my home was something of a concern, but I'm relieved to report that the relevant body responded very quickly, and a team of workers arrived within the hour to fix the problem. A key part of the job was the digging of a very big hole across my driveway, which made access a bit of a hazard.

I was a bit surprised to discover that the hole was still there after the gas team had gone. Apparently, although it was their job to dig the hole, it was someone else's job to fill it in.

Four days later, a second team arrived to fill in the hole - but not to tarmac over the top and make good on the work. That was left to a third team who arrived another two days later.

Two days after that, a lone worker arrived to ensure that the work on filling in the hole had been completed, and to take some photos of the newly laid tarmac. And finally, another day later, a final chap arrived with a bit of paperwork to sign the job off.

Nine days, four teams, one hole. What must it have cost the tax payer to dig that hole and then fill it back in again? Could there ever be a clearer illustration of the inefficiencies that accrue when different departments in an organization fail to communicate and decline to cooperate. And yes, I have seen very much the same attitude across large swathes of the engineering industry. If you didn't laugh, you'd cry.

Mark Simms
Editor

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