The law about cycling on pavements is silly and should be scrapped
The law about cycling on pavements is silly, and should be scrapped It cannot ever reasonably be enforced. Sir: Three days ago, I was sitting in a cafe in Tuscany, watching the morning progress. In the three yards between my table and the lady selling flowers, there was a steady flow of pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds. There was no pavement edge, no bollards, and people just weaved around one another, with barely a cross word or an angry glance. In trying to improve London we have to start from the fact that most salient issues are inextricably matters as much for central government as for the boroughs.
We have to recognise that London is a unique metropolis – and find a way forward that is not borrowed from somewhere else, but accents central-local co-operation. This would involve change in neither boundaries nor functions.GRAHAM M LOMASPurley, Surrey. Since their income depends on council tax, they would have every incentive to offer a good price and sell on quickly.JOHN A DAVISCambridge. Sir: Discussion of London’s government is producing widely diverging views.
Some want a lean and mean executive body with limited “strategic” functions set above the boroughs Some want an authority for south-east England An elected mayor is mentioned – a governor even. Others want to scrap the boroughs and restore “local” councils. But is the central issue one of international image, civic pride, powers, policies and practice, resources, or what? Apparently no one wants another GLC, but everyone wants an elected London authority – whose tasks seem to lengthen as the debate grows.
While integrating transport with land use is often seen as the key issue, it can be argued that London’s dominant problems are its schools and its health service. Arguing for a fresh start, Andreas Whittam Smith (“Power to the People of London town”, 15 July) sees movement for a better London making progress. Northern Irish politicians run a closed shop and have succeeded in excluding men and women who could lead these detached people, teach them about their responsibilities, and make intelligent contributions to the search for peace.ADRIAN K HALLLondon W11. Sir: A friend of mine moving from one academic post to another finds herself in a position where the completion date on buying is a month earlier than that on selling; leaving her to take out a bridging loan which will cost pounds 250 to arrange and pounds 1,000 in interest.