The gentleman in question, Mr Singh, was a charming gentleman with whom my company had the pleasure of doing business over many years.

On the day in question he had called into our office and within moments of leaving, met with this terrible fatal accident.

Over the years, two of my staff have been involved in incidents crossing the road in the vicinity of Queen Square and the opposite car park. One, some years ago, suffered a broken hip after being hit by a car. Another, earlier this year, suffered severe bruising following a collision with a cyclist. (Why, by the way, aren't cyclists compelled to carry compulsory insurance like other road users?)

Every weekday afternoon in school term-time, we watch in horror as dozens of girls from Lancaster Girls' Grammar School stream across the road here, often running between moving vehicles. It is a daft place to cross the road, I know, but there is no safe crossing place between the Penny Bridge traffic lights and the Kings Arcade at Common Garden Street.

I feel most strongly that, if something isn't done, there will be more deaths on this stretch of road. With modern technology, surely it would be possible to provide another pelican crossing, co-ordinated with the lower set of lights to ensure safe passage across King Street without
interrupting the traffic flow unduly?

I have written to Lancashire County Council's Transport and Highways Department urging them to look at this, and I would encourage anyone else who shares my concerns to do likewise, before another fatality occurs.
Duncan Woodcock MA
Managing director
Reid Hamilton and Co
Lancaster

* AS THE city councillor for the area, I would like to send my condolences to the family of Sadhu Singh who, as a pedestrian, was killed in a traffic accident on King Street last Monday, July 14.

I am sure lots of people, myself included, frequently try to cross King Street in that location – going to or from Queen Street and the southern part of the city centre.

A pedestrian and cycle crossing at that location, and at the George Street/Thurnham Street junction to cross the south-bound one-way system, was proposed a few years ago, and is clearly needed.

I have written to the county council Cabinet member to ask that the crossings be installed as a matter of urgency.

Coun Anne Chapman
Duke's ward Green Party
Lancaster