I WOULD like to congratulate the Highways Department for providing a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road near the junction with Hobb Lane and Lower Northam Road, Hedge End. It has been a real asset.

However, success seems to have gone to their heads.

Another refuge was constructed close to the medical surgeries in Lower Northam Road. If anyone had checked, it would be obvious that most patients leave the surgery, clutching their prescriptions and turn left to cross the road to reach the chemist and other shops. The refuge is about 10 yards to the right and very few even bother to look that way let alone use the refuge. It is used by some car drivers who have to park in residential roads because they have no other option.

To improve access to the said surgeries a wheelchair path has been provided. During its construction, pavements along one side of each two-way access road were improved. However, both pavements are on the wrong side of the access roads.

Whichever way you approach the surgery, it is necessary to cross the dangerous access roads to get to the pavement. These new pavements end in the busy little car park. If they had been built on the other, sensible side, pedestrians would be more likely to skirt the car park.

Now, we are being treated to a third refuge, about 30 yards from a light-controlled crossing. This refuge is close to a junction with a residential road, a service road and Lower Northam Road on one side and a service road used by delivery lorries and the buses on the other side, which means there are three roads to cross. The refuge is built at the point at which the traffic is trying to get into the correct lane of three. Now they have to first merge to get past the new refuge before trying to get into the right lane. Already there are long tail backs.

Never mind, we will soon be able to take our refuge in the proposed bandstand and watch the traffic chaos as visitors try to park and gigantic lorries aim for the motorway. We will be able in inhale all the pollutants from the vehicles waiting at the traffic lights and listen to the scream of brakes as cars jump the red lights or bump over the uneven road surfaces.

It is hard to believe that there is no money available for road repairs!

Jill Burrows

Hedge End