I REFER to the article (LET, May 15) about the crackdown on pavement hazards such as advertisement boards outside Hyndburn shops and how Hyndburn and Lancashire County Council have, quite rightly, stated that all obstructions of the highway are technically illegal.

I am no supporter of anyone who obstructs a footpath etc., so could an officer of either Lancashire or Hyndburn Council kindly tell us how they justify reporting traders for obstructing the footpath when they themselves have erected hundreds of extended footpaths throughout Hyndburn and cemented thousands of metal posts into them?

If these things are not an obstruction, then I don't know what is. As many people know, I am a severe critic of the thinking behind traffic-calming measures - which I consider to be based upon ignorance as well as, in many cases, discrimination.

This current purge on A-boards is yet another example of the same kind of attitude. I see that the councils will only act upon receiving a complaint of obstruction.

So here's one - these metal posts stuck in footpaths are nothing more than an obstruction to the elderly, partly sighted and people pushing prams, etc.

They should be abolished immediately before a serious accident occurs.

Perhaps those responsible for these council obstructions will be dealt with in the same way the council deals with offending traders.

ADRIAN SHURMER (Driver awareness consultant), Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood.

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