I MUST comment on cars parked on the pavement (H Hamer, LET February 25).

I think we must look at the reasons why cars are forced to park on the pavements in the first place.

In the 1960s there was a major road improvement scheme, including Britain's first motorway, involving the widening of many roads to accommodate the rise in car ownership.

Safety was a major concern and the hope of the road designers was to provide clear, unobstructed roads, wide enough to allow safe passage to vehicles passing in opposing directions.

However, now the roads are engineered to slow traffic, cause obstruction and generally be a pain in the proverbial. Many of the roads in England are badly designed and cannot cope with the rise and popularity of the car.

I drive throughout Europe and it is rare I see a car parked on the roadside, while HGVs in France park overnight on the pavements, where it is allowed.

Visitors to this country will start to regard us as a Third World country if we continue to allow councils to employ people who claim to be road improvement officers and then revert to engineering roads to the same dimensions as in 1720.

I can understand why drivers park on the pavement. It is so the road is kept as clear.

The argument of obstruction to pedestrians is debatable. Have you ever had to call the police to remove a vehicle so you could walk past? And the blind are more aware of obstructions than many sighted people would give them credit for.

I would advise all drivers to park on the road and cause the obstruction to highlight the plight of the humble law-abiding motorists.

The police would arrive and tell you to pull on to the pavement to keep the road clear.

STEVEN FORSYTH, St John's Street, Great Harwood.