THANK you to the Echo for the good article (November 20) about the "inhuman" Bullar Road/Athlestan Road/Bitterne Road West junction and the accompanying picture of residents and others who use the junction demonstrating in frustration and anger at the council's failure to act.

The councillors and traffic planners seem to have given no thought to the danger to life and limb when crossing this road or to the health of children and vulnerable adults who have to wait seven minutes breathing in some of the most polluted air in Southampton.

There is general agreement among pedestrians and cyclists that the only acceptable solution at this junction is an enhanced "X junction" design permitting both cycles and pedestrians to cross together. Wikipedia defines an "X junction" as "a type of traffic signal movement that temporarily stops all vehicular traffic, thereby allowing pedestrians to cross an intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time".

Many schoolchildren have to cross Bitterne Road West to get to school and I have observed them clinging on to the railings waiting for a gap in the traffic before making death-defying dashes between cement mixers and gravel trucks to get to the other side of the road.

Does anyone at the council realise that there is no crossing at all on the west side of the junction, which is exactly where pedestrians need to cross to get to the bus stop?

The council must act to make this junction safe and it could start by engaging in conversation with the residents. "Not available for comment" is simply not good enough.

Lindsi Bluemel

Bitterne Park