I would willingly have progressed your reader’s enquiry into road safety concerns

Nov 12 2008 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

SIR - I refer to Mr James Kane’s letter in last week’s edition of your newspaper. Given his home address remains private, I am left with no option but to respond courtesy of your letters page.

I have to make it clear that work which is taking place on road and bridge infrastructure is entirely a matter for North Lanarkshire Council. Only issues of road safety fall within the focus of a UK Member of Parliament.

Mr Kane’s fundamental point of inconvenience is one which I readily acknowledge. His implied reference to the serious consequences of road safety for pedestrians compels me to put James straight, in regards of where to channel his criticisms.

Therefore, improving the road network - justified or not by a new Lidl store - remains the responsibility of North Lanarkshire Council. He could have contacted them, although he has not said that he did.

I record the fact that I, however, have done so by requesting that NLC respond publicly to the criticisms he set out in his letter. It is a matter for the council how they conduct their affairs, however, I repeat the assurance to me from their Head of Transport that there are absolutely no safety problems for pedestrians during this temporary upheaval.

Had Mr Kane contacted me about road safety then I would most willingly have progressed his enquiry. I would have acted as I did at the request of a young woman with a disability who wanted a pedestrian crossing between the Faraday Park and the petrol garage. I sought no publicity, I was simply pleased to see pedestrians cross a very busy road safely.

And to Mr Kane may I say, please don’t trivialise my activities on behalf of people with disabilities. This is quite unworthy. Nor should Mr Kane conflate road safety - a life and death issue - with sarcasm.

When a person is killed in a road accident, bereaved families are traumatised. In such tragic circumstances there is no scope among grieving relatives for sneering humour.

Mr Kane must surely know that had he come to my surgery in Whifflet on Saturday, November 1, before his letter appeared, or contacted my office, then I would have responded in a courteous and concerned way.

Tom Clarke MP.