Martin Cassini is a roads anarchist

Martin Cassini claims that Barnstaple and Braunton are ‘less pioneering than Ilfracombe’ because they rejected his proposals for reform (“Council to explore ‘shared street’ plan,” Gazette, July 23)

He should have mentioned all the other authorities that have rejected his stupid and dangerous schemes.

Mr Cassini’s ideas have featured on television and radio over the years (Google him!).

He is a roads anarchist who would have all systems of traffic control, particularly traffic lights and priority principles, scrapped and replaced by a free-for-all.

It need hardly be said that chaos would ensue, as is evident when traffic lights fail in congested urban areas.

Under those circumstances collisions occur, giving the lie to Cassini’s claims that reduced speeds and less controls make driving safer. (I am not advocating scrapping speed limits, as he does).

I go shopping on foot in Ilfracombe town centre nearly every day, so have a good idea of the problems.

The picture in the Gazette shows a tranquil period in the High Street which, though common, is contrasted with periods when trying to cross continuous streams of traffic from both directions is a hazardous task.

Add to that the disruption to traffic flows caused by delivery lorries, and the proposal to widen pavements is beyond belief.

Mr Cassini singles out the east end of High Street for pavement widening. The stretch of road outside Drapers is a constant bottleneck, with buses, lorries/vans and cars jostling to get through.

The problem is exacerbated by vehicles parked in the layby.

If you narrow the road there, you might as well close Ilfracombe to through traffic.

I don’t think anybody, particularly traders, would want that.

Sadly, like many others here, I have no practical and economical ideas how to solve Ilfracombe’s traffic problems, but Mr Cassini’s ideas will make them much worse.

Tony Olsson

Ilfracombe