Much of what she said also applies to cycling as an alternative to using cars for short journeys.

For several years, Lincolnshire County Council's Community Travel Zone plans have been trying to encourage the residents of Spalding not to use their cars unnecessarily for journeys of under two miles.

Promoting personal health and fitness, reducing traffic congestion and protecting the environment are all praiseworthy aims.

On the day when you published Julie's article, The Guardian reported recent studies by Cycling England and Sustrans which highlighted safety concerns as reasons why fewer pupils cycle to school than in the past.

Nowadays, only two per cent of UK schoolchildren cycle to school whereas almost half of all pupils would like to cycle.

If the authorities do more to reduce the fear of danger on Spalding's roads, then more people will choose to walk and cycle, and traffic congestion will be reduced at busy times.

Lincolnshire County Council will have to take some significant (but not necessarily costly) decisions to help pedestrians and cyclists to feel safer for the whole length of their journeys to schools and the town centre.

These measures should include priority to pedestrians and cyclists at the junctions of Stonegate and Halmergate and Westlode Street and Double Street, and both ends of the High Bridge.

ROGER SMITH