With regards to the situation now existing in Castle Street, Liskeard, where there is surely a fatal accident just waiting to happen, would it not have been prudent to erect traffic lights at each end or to have left the street as it was originally?

At present there exists a constant game of chicken, where traffic entering from the Pound Street end, at great speed, gives the traffic at the far end no chance whatever of safely entering.

I have used that bottleneck once since it opened and was forced onto the pavement by a belligerent driver determined to claim his right of way.

Now I refuse to use Castle Street and choose to take the long way around via Charter Way. It is the safest but longest route, thus increasing Liskeard's carbon footprint, and when multiplied by the number of others refusing to use Castle Street, must surely add up. Did the planners envisage that I wonder?

Apart from my inconvenience, there still remains the question of how long before the first fatal accident occurs, when a motorist mounts the pavement and hits a pedestrian.

There has already been one accident at the Lord Eliot end, so for how long do the planners wait 'to see how it will develop' before Castle Street is completely blocked by ambulances, police, paramedics and grieving relatives.

The accident statistics of Castle Street during the past 15 years, would, I think, make interesting reading, especially for the planners.

I cannot believe that a folder exists somewhere, entitled 'Castle Street traffic fatalities' or if it does, that anyone of consequence ever read it.

So, before it happens, prevent it. It is not being prevented at this moment, it is being encouraged.

Get traffic lights erected now. The road maintenance workmen can erect temporary traffic lights in half-an-hour, at a minimal cost.

They could remain temporary for months, which they usually do, while more permanent traffic lights are installed.

JOHN WORBOYS

Liskeard