Carolyn Bassett of Watling Street, Leintwardine, says this traffic misery has to be remedied (From Hereford Times)

Carolyn Bassett of Watling Street, Leintwardine, says this traffic misery has to be remedied

3:00pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in Letters

THIS afternoon I have returned from yet another fraught trip to Hereford.

The heavy rain we experienced today, June 7, never has a good impact on levels of traffic in the city.

Every road appeared to be choked up with traffic, leaving drivers no alternative than to negotiate the roads at a snail’s pace. A familiar situation which only seems to be getting worse.

What really disturbed me today was the effect the stressful traffic situation seems to be having on everyone’s temperament. My mother was caught in traffic this morning and unfortunately found herself stationary on a pedestrian crossing at the moment when people were trying to cross the road. An angry man opened her car door and verbally abused her, which was a very distressing and threatening situation, especially as she had two grandchildren with her.

Strangely enough, a similar thing happened to me this afternoon. I was driving towards the Kerry Arms behind heavy traffic, trying to turn right into Blue School Street, but holding back as I didn’t want to block the box junction. The lights then turned red which meant my car was obstructing the path for pedestrians to cross. A disgruntled man shouted at me and banged his fist on the back of my car as he crossed the road behind me. It wasn’t my intention to block his path.

As I drove home to Leintwardine I felt relieved to be returning to the tranquillity of the country and I also felt extremely sorry for the people of Hereford who must have to continually contend with aggravated drivers and pedestrians who are caught up in traffic.

I grew up in Hereford and have always been proud to be from the area, but I would absolutely not wish to live in Hereford now, and there must be plenty of others who feel the same. In my opinion its lack of a bypass and resulting traffic problems have killed off any of the charms the city once held and have left its residents stressed-out, angry and aggressive.

A radical solution must be found now or the city will die; it is literally choking to death.

CAROLYN BASSETT, Watling Street, Leintwardine.