West End Letters: Pedestrians | traffic lights | Milena Nuti | pedestrian crossings | Paul Dimoldenberg

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 15 May 2009

Pedestrians should be asked for their views on traffic lights

Ask pedestrians their views on changes to traffic lights

• WESTMINSTER City Council’s plans to scrap traffic lights so that cars can travel faster along busy roads will penalise pedestrians and increase the risk of accidents.
These latest plans to be tested in Westminster, Ealing and other Conservative-run councils, combined with Boris Johnson’s plans to cut the time to cross on “green man”- controlled pedestrian crossings, will hit the elderly, the disabled and young children and increase the number of road accidents.
Before any decisions are made there should be consultation with pedestrians first.
The “experts” say that removing the traffic lights will speed up traffic.
Well, that might be so, but how are pedestrians going to cross the road if the traffic is flowing without a break?
These latest moves by Westminster Conservatives and Mayor Johnson are bad news for older people, young children, the disabled and parents with prams.
There are already too many accidents on the roads and these latest plans will increase the risks for pedestrians further. Why aren’t pedestrians being consulted on these crazy plans?
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
Leader of the Labour Group

Danger junction

• HOW dangerous does a junction have to get before it becomes a priority?
The busy intersection between Marchmont Street and Tavistock Place (pictured) is incredibly difficult to get across safely. The high volume of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists all have trouble figuring out who has the right of way because of poor road layout and badly synchronised traffic signals.
There has already been one fatal accident, three serious recent collisions have left pedestrians hospitalised, and near-misses are witnessed daily.
Problems have been reported again and again but we’re told this is not a high enough priority and there are no funds to carry out necessary improvements.
If this isn’t one of the most dangerous crossings in the area I dread to think what is.
Milena Nuti, Marchmont Street, WC1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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