HAVING heard many angry calls from construction industry personnel, for example, one wonders if common sense could ever be considered when it comes to keeping some of those who rely on a living from the building trades in some kind of associated work?

There are potential customers, people with money in the bank doing nothing much at current interest rates, who should be persuaded that jobs like home improvements, extensions and even long awaited repairs could be undertaken at this time to alleviate some of the downturn in the industry.

Then comes the problem, while the economy has been in extravagance meltdown, many tradesmen have grabbed every last penny from the customer to establish their own empires. Hourly rates for builders, plumbers, electricians and associated trades have gone through the roof. Some plasterers, I will say, have been quite reasonable, in my experience, though the majority wish to work for the rate of pay of a top medical surgeon.

What we need to do in the UK is get back to basics and give value for money if we offer a service, no more £70 per hour because you happen to have some minority skill. When times are hard, some of these professions could adjust their business fees as some retailers have had to do, reduce to sell, and in this case reduce to encourage people to be able to afford your more realistic quotations.

Everyone has to help themselves and each other just now, and we could easily return to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Builders lose work by being unrealistic and over-pricing jobs. It can put potential customers off from having work done. The trade has created a bad name for itself.

PAUL MORSE Cheney Manor Road Swindon