You printed my letter recalling how when I was a lad everyone cleaned the footpaths in front of their home and place of business.

I was willing to clean snow from the paths around my apartment. All I needed was a shovel.

Both my housing association, Twin Valley, and Blackburn Council said they could not loan me a shovel.

I live 200 yards from the spot where a child lost her life due to the pavement not being cleared of snow.

The same day I slipped and slid going the short distance to the town centre for food.

To avoid a future tragedy, it needs to be recognised that pedestrians’ needs are at least as important as those of drivers.

We need a commitment from all, starting with the council, that next time shovels will be used to clean pavements or shovels will be made available for those willing to clear their own pavements.

On the day of the tragedy, as I slipped past the Job Centre, I noticed at least four strong men working as security standing in the warm foyer. The same was true for the Mall and the Market. These people could have cleared the streets leading to their place of work. It would have been the most productive act of security for their customers.

Let’s have no more of ‘it’s not my job’, ‘It’s against health and safety’, ‘It’s the council or some other’s responsibility.’ What have we learned? Cars are more important than pedestrians? Not my job is the prevailing attitude?

We have become so machine-dependent that we have forgotten about shovels? Rolling our sleeves up as a community is a thing of the past?

If this is how we deal with a bit of snow, let’s stop wasting time thinking we are going to change our self-centred behaviour to deal with climate warming.

TONY HEYES, Swift Close, Blackburn.