Viewpoint: Pelican crossing needed at problem Maidenhead junction

Pelican crossing needed at problem junction

On Friday I almost saw a child around 11 or 12 years old being killed.

He was diagonally opposite me at the junction with the A4 and All Saints Avenue waiting patiently, like me, for all four sets of lights to go red so it was safe to cross.

When they did so he began to cross and I almost did but something in the corner of my eye made me hesitate.

I turned and saw a car accelerate through the red light and head straight for him.

It beeped loudly but didn’t slow down.

He bolted to the pavement and it missed him by inches.

If he had been deaf, or had frozen in fear as it raced towards him, he would be dead.

Many children from Furze Platt Senior and Newlands schools cross that road every day unaccompanied and I have seen cars ignore the red lights far too often just because the cross traffic is stopped.

For the sake of the children, mums with toddlers, the elderly and those in motorised wheelchairs, none of whom would have the agility and quick response of that child, we need a proper pelican crossing there.

A few extra seconds to wait kills no one, but racing to jump the lights before the other traffic moves could so easily have been fatal.

ANNE SWEENEY

Gwendale

Maidenhead

Which ‘Don’ will Trump be remembered as?

On Radio 4’s 10pm programme the other night, the presenter made reference to how ‘quixotic’ President Trump is.

No doubt history will judge whether he has been more ‘Don Quixote’ – tilting at windmills and dreaming the impossible dream – or Don Corleone, ‘….gonna make him an offer he can't refuse…’.

I offer the following to the tune of the Mexican hat dance:

“The President talks through his hat”

When old Trump wants to look a complete prat,

He’ll just make ten more rules by his fiat –

Like a Stetson’s a Mexican’s new hat!

Or the Gulf you all know

As that of Mexico

Is America’s now – that is that!

Then sit back and watch the online chat.

JAY FLYNN

Moneyrow Green

Holyport

Protecting nature for the next generation

I fear for the survival of our natural environment with all the pressures put upon it with housing, wind farms, sewage etc.

I fear the next generation will not enjoy what we as children took for granted.

Few of them can put a name to a wild flower.

I want nature to be protected and schools to teach children how to enjoy it and understand that it is good for our mental health to walk amongst it on a regular basis.

FELICITY AUSTIN-SMITH

South Ascot

Noise cameras sound good, but who will pay?

I echo the frustration of the recent correspondence (Viewpoint, May 9 and 16) regarding the noise nuisance caused by boy racers whizzing up and down residential streets at all hours.

This seems to be a perennial problem in many built-up areas and one that the police seem to struggle to resolve.

Perhaps, like me, your correspondents did not want their details included due to the perhaps irrational fear that raising the issue may cause these drivers to amplify their anti-social efforts where they live.

In reality, I suspect these individuals have never read a newspaper in their lives, but one cannot be too careful.

I was very intrigued to read the suggestion of introducing noise cameras – technology I was unfamiliar with until I read about them on these pages.

They seem to be a good idea, but who would pay for them?

The police seem to have enough problems they need to throw money at, and we all know our local council has barely enough money to fund its statutory services, let alone pay for a ‘nice to have’ project like this.

Perhaps this is something those kind-hearted developers building houses all over Maidenhead will want to resolve. They’re not short of a few bob.

After all, who would want to pay over the odds to live in a high-rise flat plagued by popping exhausts and revving engines in the middle of the night?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Kindness of strangers on show in abundance

I’d like to thank all the people who helped me when I fell in William Street, Windsor, on Saturday,

Firstly, two young women, who had met to go shopping, stopped to see if I was OK and then helped me with tissues and wipes.

They were joined by a very kind man, with more tissues. All three stayed with me until I was able to get up and move on.

I then went to the toilets in Victoria Street where two other women offered advice and support.

I decided to go to Caffe Nero to ask for some ice – and was helped by a very concerned member of staff .

My luck was in – two friends were having coffee there so I was very well looked after and taken home.

I have lived in Windsor for over 50 years and I’m very lucky to have a number of friendships. But this incident also shows, in abundance, the kindness of strangers and I'm very grateful.

LINDA

Windsor

Starmer’s EU deal is useless and dishonest

As we know back in 2016, 17.4million people including myself voted in favour of leaving the clutches of the toxic EU in a democratic vote.

Keir Starmer could not accept this and we’re now told they spent fully four years trying to get a second referendum!

What would be the scenario if this too hadn’t worked out how he wished push for another and third time lucky?

This attitude is akin to not accepting when one’s football team has lost a match and insisting on replays until the desired result is achieved – or fluked.

For all the years of wrangling it took for Brexit to be delivered, Starmer has effectively dragged us back into the EU in a deal as quick and dodgy as those that used to take place ‘off the back of a lorry,’ the main difference being those deals were useful if dishonest, this is just plain dishonest and useless.

So well done Sir Keir, just don’t bank on a second chance come the next election.

I feel it won’t be forthcoming somehow!

TONY BECK

Frogmill Spinney

Hurley