• STEVEN EDWARDS thinks that I and others, are screaming and howling in our comments about Judd Street closures, (We need measures to curb traffic, July 12).

I noticed he lives in NW5, that’s not WC1H so I’m not sure how he can dismiss our concerns… unless of course he cycles.

I too cycle although not so much these days and I still can’t see why Judd Street has to close at each end when there are cycle routes each side of it.

Closing the street may be “a simple scheme” but the route that delivery, refuse vehicles (and we have a lot of those for the many small cafés and restaurants), indeed any traffic that needs to come into the area will have to use other routes, undoubtedly increasing traffic flow on Tavistock Place and other small streets.

We have large mansion blocks here that need regular maintenance; which means large lorries carrying vast amounts of scaffolding.

Traffic that needs to come in will come in but by extended routes. How in the world does that reduce pollution? And Judd Street is traffic light as it is.

Roads are not “rat-runs” they were made for traffic as they have been throughout London’s history.

There is “messianic” thinking among the now very political cycle groups. I came across that with their very vocal support for the changes to Tavistock/Torrington Place while I cycled along the previous scheme.

As a cyclist I’m not against cycle lanes, of course, but when you squeeze traffic into one lane or take roads out altogether, it slows it right down. And that causes more pollution.

Traffic doesn’t vanish, it has to take other routes wherever that might be and taking the pollution to someone/somewhere else.

I live in the street, I ride in the area, occasionally drive in the area and walk in the area. There is no problem in Judd Street – as yet.

MIKE ELLES
Judd Street, WC1