"THE passing of the ubiquitous motor car along our roads, like the transit of a comet, but with a long trail of petrol fumes instead of a trail of light, has brought the dust problem to an acute stage, and the sooner all the country roads are treated with tar the better it will be for the public, as well as for the beauty of our country roads," mused the Gazette 100 years ago.

"Except when the rain comes to the rescue, those who frequent most of the high roads of the country side generally arrive at their destination with parched throats, and with their clothes whitened as though they had paid a visit to a flour mill, whilst the green of the hedgerows becomes a thing of the past."

The Gazette was welcoming news from Worcestershire County Council that it would pay half the costs of tarring the roads to keep dust down, as long as some other local authorities or private individuals stumped up the rest of the money.

"The problem is extremely difficult of solution, though the nuisance and the damage to the roads by the motor-cars are only too obvious. There are many reformers who feel that nothing really satisfactory will be accomplished until the owners of motor cars make some direct financial contribution. The imposition of a tax may be necessary."