I've seen them in some stupid places but on the 200-yard stretch as you enter Brackmills between the A45 roundabout and Pavilion Drive really does take the biscuit.

It was 8.15am Tuesday morning rush hour and the chances of getting anywhere near 30mph on your way to work are pretty remote.

Why do the police see fit to chase after the average man on his way to work in this way?

Also, as we are lucky enough to have one of the worst performing police forces in the country, would it not be better to use resources elsewhere?
Paul Wedgbrow
Penrhyn Road
Far Cotton, Northampton

Meadow group deserves victory
Success in the purchase of the Kingsthorpe Meadow by the NN2 Residents' Association is well-deserved. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

What a pity that Councillor Choudary acted in opposition to the Kingsthorpe community . . . not quite the style of an elected representative!

Then his proposal to build on the flood plain flew in the face of all common sense.

Perhaps he was out of his depth (pun).

Too many blunders councillor . . . time to go!
John Wright
North Western Avenue
Kingsthorpe, Northampton

Cloud hanging over our market
I feel our Market Square has a cloud hanging over it since layout changes have been forced on our market.

My view is that it is a step too far for Northampton and it could be disastrous for the town.

I am preparing to fight a David and Goliath battle over the controversial plans.

Over the years, many fine retail businesses have gone to make way for dull insurance offices and greedy banks and estate agents, who have taken away the life of the town centre.

The high rent and rates have ensured the small independent retailers have great difficulty trading in the modern town centre.

In the 1960s, if you looked at a fruit and vegetable stall, all you would see is the backs of people crowding around to be served.

It's a long time since I saw that on Northampton market.
E Fitzpatrick
Ridgeway, Northampton

Continental style won't work
Re the letter from Joe Costello (C&E, October 3) about Continental markets, what he omits to mention is that many European traders use big curtain-side lorries to work out of, costing new upwards of £50,000 each.

Now if Joe and his associates in the entertainments industry would like to put up the dosh to buy all of us Northampton market traders a nice new curtain-sider, I'm sure most of us would jump at the chance.

But on a full market day, like a Saturday, the curtain-siders and their "flash" (display) would take up so much of the square there wouldn't be room for an entertainments area.

However on a more serious note, if you are running a curtain-sider, you need to take big money just to keep the operation going.

There's no way this could be done on Northampton market in its present impoverished state.

You would need hundreds of customers every day, like they get at Continental markets.

Dream on, Joe.
Keith Westhead
Northampton Market Trader

Driving us out
Mr Atkins (September 26) is so right about the council and the Market Square.

About three years ago the council wanted to move the market to Abington Street and use the square as parking.

That was quashed.

Perhaps if they can now drive the traders away with the high rents and meddling, they can do just that.

We once had a market that people came to from all over the place, but now a a mere few come for their fruit and vegetables.

Come on, let them know we are the county town for goodness sake and show them what we can do.
Do away with the council's crackpot schemes!
Barbara Philip
Knightscliffe Way
New Duston, Northampton

Stick to original charter ideals
May I just say thank you to J S Sheinman (Viewpoint, October 6) and his fantastic plan for the Market Square.

It is time that the council stopped looking at these idiotic plans concerning TV screens, art works etc.

The square is or should be about people, be they stallholders or customers.

That is what the charter was originally given for, not an extended entertainment zone or a way for the council to make money.

The rents should be realistic and the stallholders encouraged, then we may get some life back into the town centre.

This plan is the way forward.

Those councillors involved should listen to the people they are supposed to represent.
Doug Buckle,
Kentstone Close, Northampton

Use language of common sense
Gordon Brown some time ago said that people who come to the UK should try, and be encouraged, to speak English and hopefully embrace our culture. So why are police officers undergoing "diversity" training, specifically in relation to the Polish community?

Surely it should be the other way round and based on using one's own common sense?

Every time I hear the word "diversity" I cringe and feel this has just caused more separation than integration.

Some people might say training about diversity is an insult to our intelligence.

As a taxpayer, I want the police on the streets preventing or dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour, not following someone's politically-correct agenda.

On a daily basis I walk my guide dog and always say hello to other people I meet, whoever they are, and sometimes chat for a while.

If some happen to speak in broken English, I do not need diversity lessons to help me converse with them, nor them with me.

Perhaps this is another example of job creation by public bodies and paid for by the taxpayer (yet again).
Peter Minney
Irondale Close, Northampton

Keep off paths!
AS a non-driving, elderly person, I have nowhere to go but to walk on the pavements.

The most frightening thing is when a cyclist goes whizzing past, narrowly missing me, as I gently walk along.

If I was hit it could finish me off.

Bells should be a must and care and attention when passing pedestrians should be enforced.

The pavements are for pedestrians!
I Clarke
Briar Hill Road, Far Cotton, Northampton