Sir, – I'm sure other readers will share my frustration at the issues which blight the quality of life for pedestrians in our town. Vehicles parked on pavements, speeding traffic and crossings which don’t allow sufficient time for people to cross the road, can make our area hostile and an unpleasant place to walk. For older people or those with mobility problems, it can be downright dangerous.

Piecemeal and conflicting rules abound on these matters making it confusing for police, enforcement agencies, councils and all road users alike. As the general election draws nearer, I would encourage readers to urge their local parliamentary candidates to support the charity Living Streets’ campaign for the introduction of an Active Travel Bill. Such a piece of legislation could regularise rules on pavement parking, reduce speed limits on the streets where we live, work and go to school. It would make walking safer and easier which would benefit all of us.

An Active Travel Bill could not only reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads, but create a healthier environment where walking to school, to work or to the shops is a pleasure and not a hazard. To take action visit http://www.livingstreets.co.uk/take-action.

In my area, more than 50 per cent of people park on the pavements, making it difficult for less able-bodies people to get past, sometimes having to go out on to the road. Cars even do this around schools at picking up time. Some think that if they park on the pavement at double yellow lines, then the lines don't count. A particularly bad area is around the local health centre. On this road, there are often speeding cars to deal with as well as the pavement parkers.

CHRISTINE FRANKLIN

Hird Road, Yarm.