THE observant letter “Don’t repeat kerb hazard mistakes”

(Readers’ Times, August 23) from C Morton, has an added interest in that the councillor responsible for dealing with Widemarsh Street is Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, who is seeking our vote to become the first police and crime commissioner for West Mercia.

While we do not know what qualifications he has for that post, we have at least seen him in action and do not have to take him on trust. As Sophocles said – a saying so true it has survived two and a half centuries: “You cannot judge a man aright till he stands forth, ruler and lawgiver.”

As a cabinet member, Coun Blackshaw is in that position. The crisis in Widemarsh Street seems an appropriate test.

When the architect came to him with an unusual and untested plan for the makeover of Widemarsh Street did he balance the possible needs of this experimental flourish against the needs of Herefordians for safe passage?

When accidents were reported did he arrange for danger signs to be erected?

No, he arranged for sticking plaster to be applied to the road.

LANCE MARSHALL, Whitecross Road, Hereford.