WHEN, oh when are Lancaster City Council going to do something about Queen Street?

For generations the street has been the place where Senior Citizens can live in a sheltered environment. As someone who worked on behalf of many local charities, when I myself arrived to live in the Street, two years ago, I thought my spell of bad luck was over.

Not so, if anyone cares to try it, just walk down to the Cinema from Lindow square, the pavement is cracked and insecure, with lumps and bumps, now imagine you've got an arthritic back and just had a hip operation. One fall might ruin your only chance of ever being independent again, would you risk it? How about crossing the road? There seems to be a general agreement amongst Taxi Driver and White Van Man that instead of being stuck in main road Traffic, you can whizz down Queen Street and barge your way back into the traffic flow at the end, having had the thrill of your life meantime! Jeremy Clarkson would no doubt approve! The latest thing is "Born Again Bikers" dicing with each other, no doubt on their way to Kirkby Lonsdale, I swear I saw them reach 100mph.

Another ruse is to use the car park at the end as a rat run to get into traffic from the Girls Grammar school area. Whilst these public spirited types are mixing it with "White Van Man" and "Ace Taxis", we can't get by on the pavement.

Please Lancaster City Council, if you value your older citizens, can you please put a smooth walking surface down for pedestrians, and a couple of "speed humps" or some other Traffic Calming scheme. You did it on Dallas Road, and Common Garden Street, at the moment in my state of health I, and many like me are prisoners in our own homes!

Jack Armitage

Queen Street

Lancaster