I regularly use Goldwire Lane as a pedestrian and was really surprised to read the article on the front page last week.

The lane is used by local residents throughout the day, children going to school, parents with pushchairs heading for town and nursery, local residents with shopping bags and trollies, mobility scooters , and the older folks from Home Forge and Abbeyfield , many of whom use walkers and walking sticks.

These consultations are not well advertised and I have yet to find someone who knew it was going on.

A group of users decided to start our own petition in favour of keeping the lane traffic free, apart from access.

Within two hours we had over 100 signatures… this was on Monday morning between 10.30 and 12.30.

I heard the same comments from users repeatedly…. how much easier, more pleasant and safer they feel. Also how some cars are still using the route and how they hear them coming up behind them and have to move aside. Several elderly people said they did not hear them coming up car till it hooted. One lady was deaf and blind.

Two people out of over 100 wouldn’t sign .

One person said they were taken off a local group when they did not agree with reopening the lane to through traffic. Nobody else had been asked their thoughts on the matter. All the signatures were from people living locally, some actually in Goldwire Lane.

It has already been stated that in an emergency situation like flood or accident the road would be able to be used.

I am hoping that you will balance last weeks front page by reporting on this again, hopefully with a photo of some of us who are in favour of keeping Goldwire Lane access only.