Only in Oxford, we feel, would you find a situation where an historic street is given precisely the same sort of treatment as ever other patch of road in the city.

Merton Street is the only cobbled street in the city, but for the past 18 months or more, when holes have appeared they have been filled with asphalt.

Oxford City Council says it has made the temporary repairs, rather than the more expensive option of replacing the cobbles, because of a lack of funding from the county council.

The county council is quite clear that the city council chose to take responsibility for minor roads and it was up to the city alone to decide on its priorities.

This squabble has gone on long enough. We wholeheartedly support the Oxford Preservation Trust’s call for the councils to come together to halt the deterioration of one of the jewels in Oxford’s crown.

The street, the people of the city, and the hordes of visitors, all deserve much better treatment.