My incident occurred when there was a line of stationary traffic either side of the crossing and by coincidence, or design, there was a police community officer standing outside the Post Office.

He acknowledged that he had seen my close shave but only wrote something on his hand! Not overly official, but I hope it was the car's registration.

This got me thinking. Firstly was there actually a need for the crossing in the first place as I cannot remember any incidents on West Street?

At the point when the authorities deemed a crossing was necessary what observations were taken?

Any Bourne person could have told them there is a constant tail back of stationary traffic caused by the main traffic lights at the A15 junction.

This inevitably does have a marked effect on the safety and viability of the site.

Similarly the double yellow lines have always been abused on West Street so the small island was never going to be adequate enough to stop selfish people just popping to the post box etc. What price good old common sense?

I am now intrigued as to what the police community officers' actual remit is going to be?

On reflection the whole situation is a sad indictment on Bourne's road and infrastructure planning.

We always seem to have to put up with knee jerk retrospective bodge ups instead of things being planned properly in the first place.

Elsea Park for instance where if investment had gone in to providing the youngsters with something to do then money wouldn't have to be spent on fencing in the Abbey Lawn.

Prevention rather than cure.

Personally I hate the euphuism "joined up thinking" but in this instance it does seem most appropriate in highlighting the current inadequacies of the thought processes of those who govern the prospects of our town.

Steve Jackson
Thurlby