There was a public consultation about improvements planned for Cotteridge some months before May 2003. These improvements included replacing tarmac on the pavements with paving blocks, putting in rails round the corners of the roundabout to stop people running across the road in silly places, and putting in a few cycle racks on all four sides of the roundabout (I have photos of the racks taken in May 2003). Note that two of the racks have now been removed as part of the footpath improvements near Kings Norton railway station in recent months!

Well I went along to the consultation and spoke to the engineers and pointed out the hazards that I faced as a cyclist coming up the hill from Cadbury's to the cross roads where the cycle lane now ends. Because the road narrows and bends to the left, cars following me up the hill, cut the corner and more than once I've been nearly run into the kerb.

So they put the cycle lane in to indicate to the cars that they need to keep over and not cut in to the kerb as they approach the top of the hill and the road bends to the left. I have to say it works; cars tend to keep outside the white lines and when there is a cyclist in the lane it is even more obvious to them that they need to do so.

When the council listens and does something that helps, we should say so.

We live adjacent to the Grand Union canal and during the summer months we are plagued with the noise of youths riding trail bikes along the towpath of the Grand Union canal northwards from Damson Parkway.

Some years ago we were approached by Solihull Council who advised of proposed improvements to access to the canal towpath and asked us for our views. I told them I was in favour so long as some barrier were erected to prevent access by motorcyclists as we have had problems before. As usual, Solihull Council failed to listen and no barriers were erected.

Consequently we now have these problems. The motorcyclists cannot go further than Damson Parkway because, as you may have guessed, barriers have been erected. Mr Bennett can count himself lucky he doesn't suffer these problems, or is it because the barriers are working.

Complaints to the police, Solihull Council and British Waterways have got us nowhere so as a result the surface of the towpath has become churned up and becomes very muddy and impassable during wet periods.