I READ the article concerning the Forty Foot Bank and Councillor Alan Melton s comments with interest. I am delighted to learn that Cllr Melton proposes to work to push forward the building of the Whittlesey bypass. I am greatly in favour of any road impr

I READ the article concerning the Forty Foot Bank and Councillor Alan Melton's comments with interest.

I am delighted to learn that Cllr Melton proposes to work to push forward the building of the Whittlesey bypass. I am greatly in favour of any road improvements.

However, this matter should not be confused with the issue of local accessibility and local road safety.

It appears to me that a ban on lorries using the Forty Foot Bank would be a sensible and positive move, but to close the road altogether strikes me as ridiculous.

Cllr Melton says the Forty Foot Bank was built for horses and carts and not modern traffic. Well, I have to point out that every road in the country was built for either horses and carts or Roman Legions - it's just that most roads have been improved to cope with changes to man's modes of transport.

Measures need to be put in place to prevent or deter vehicles leaving the Forty Foot road in the event of skid, swerve, blown-out tyre, driver coughing fit or whatever.

I do not entirely accept that a kerb or barrier would inevitably force a vehicle into the path of an oncoming vehicle, because the flow of traffic is regular, but not constant. But a physical measure could prevent a vehicle entering the water. This is the great danger. Once in the water the pressure is likely to prevent doors opening and electric windows are unlikely to operate.

No-one should drown for the want of a kerb.

CHRISTINE COLBERT, Pound Road, Chatteris