RECENT letters from Clive Mowforth have stirred me to write about the crossings on Kingshill Road.

Over the years I have often contacted Highways about my concerns with these crossings, with occasional reactions.

I lived almost next to the Garden Suburb crossing for many years, and greatly appreciate it. Unfortunately, the volume and speed of traffic has increased, and, in my view, consideration for pedestrians and cyclists has decreased.

I thought I was on my own complaining, but obviously others share my concerns.

I, too, have drawn the same conclusion as Clive Mowforth, in that pedestrians are second class citizens in their own town.

In my view, the time delays before the crossing sequence starts are illogical. I have stood many times waiting for operation, whether there is any traffic or not. Often I have been held for traffic that is not yet even in view, because of the wide gaps in traffic.I have observed over the years many youngsters tiring of waiting and dodging across the road.

Surely the equitable timing, taking into account both pedestrians and motorists, is that if the crossing has not stopped traffic in the last 30 to 40 seconds then the crossing procedure should start immediately, not "wait for a gap in traffic", as I see reported. If traffic is continuous it has to be stopped at some time, so why should a pedestrian have to wait so long?

Last night I drove down Kingshill Road towards town just as a downpour occurred, and could see from a distance persons either side of the Garden Suburb crossing waiting to cross. Even after I had passed the lights had still not changed. I also notice when driving out of town, people waiting at the Kingshill shops crossing from when I pass the speed camera, and they are still there when I reach the mini roundabout. As Clive Mowforth asked, are they being punished?

I often walk my grandchildren to school in Kingston upon Thames. The Richmond Road, which we have to cross, is much busier than Kingshill Road.

The pedestrian crossings there begin the stop sequence immediately, unless it has just operated in the last 30 seconds. Children know that if they miss one cross opportunity, they do not have long to wait for the next. When we take them down to the playground here, they get very restless at the long wait on the Garden Suburb crossing.

If Kingston upon Thames can adopt sensible, equitable crossing procedures, why can Highways here not do the same?

Dave Chequer

Burnt Oak

Dursley