NOW that the third and final vote on the Bristol Street Traffic Plan is to be held on Tuesday next, January 27, it is time for last-minute examination of the situation.

If the vocal self-interest of the motorist lobby gets its way without heeding the potential danger, a grave mistake may be made.

Surely the safety of the pedestrian must be paramount and this would without doubt mean the widening of the pavement to the proposed 15 metres at its narrowest point, just east of the Foxley Road junction, and the necessary installation of traffic lights at that point.

This road is a designated "safe route" to the new school. Parents, your hearts would be in your mouths if you saw some of the near misses to and from school.

It can be quite a hazardous walk at the best of times, but on a Wednesday morning in particular, when the rubbish bags are all outside people's front doors awaiting collection it can be like a dangerous obstacle race.

Of necessity, you have to keep on moving into the road, as the pavement is not only ridiculously narrow but there is no alternative, there being no pavement at all on the other side of the road at this point.

Going down the hill is the worst of all, as you have to continually look over your shoulder at the sound of an approaching vehicle, so that you can avoid its wing mirror.

I could go on and on about this, but common sense can see that widening the existing pavement is the only realistic solution to this really dangerous problem and we shall all have to adjust to it when the change comes.

I hope that there will be some real pedestrian support at this important meeting at Malmesbury Town Hall, at 7pm on Tuesday.

J BROWN

Malmesbury