‘Enhancing’ roads but not our arts centre

Your front-page article in last week’s paper reporting on the travel plans in Maidenhead was staggering.

I am amazed that the council is considering some projects which seem absurd especially in relation to Shoppenhangers Road.

Several thoughts spring to mind.

1. You cannot regard a major thoroughfare as a rat run. The housing along the road has increased at least fivefold so it is not surprising that at peak

periods there is a significant amount of traffic.

2. Looking at the other roads in the town I would consider Shoppenhangers to be in a league of its own – relatively wide and ample pavements each side.

3. I would suggest that the majority of additional users are those who need to go to and from Cox Green, Woodlands Park and beyond.

4. For the first two areas the alternative route would be via roads which have significantly younger children going to school along much less serviced roads.

5. Shoppenhangers has Desborough but you would think at this stage of the pupils' lives they would able to safely walk because of its pedestrian facilities. Something that is lacking around other areas of the town.

6. I was under the impression that the shortest route is the most environmentally friendly option. The other major route into Maidenhead is the A4 which at peak times, in normal circumstances, is at a standstill.

7. You do not see many cyclists on Shoppenhangers Road. They seem to prefer the A308 and the A330. Roads which present a much greater problem to motorists and cyclists alike.

8. If you have £335,000 to spend on roads within the borough, I would have thought a good proportion of it could be spent bringing them to an acceptable standard.

The council are quick to say that they are trying to enhance the town but to the majority of people who have lived in and around it, they have continually failed.

I read on the letters page that they are to cut the funding to Norden Farm.

This is the only arts centre in Maidenhead where people can enjoy a wide variety entertainment and activities. There is normally something on offer to suit ever yone.

What would the town be like if there were no such facilities available?

The town has little else to offer for enter tainment.

JILL FOULDS Hearne Drive

Holypor t