His recent newsletter claims: “Road safety has been a massive concern of mine. Following the tragic death of a child on our streets as a result of a dangerous driver, I led a successful campaign to increase the sentence for killing someone ... through dangerous driving.” Fine, but he must know the benefits in lives/injuries saved will be marginal and that, by contrast, Enfield Borough Council’s ‘Mini-Holland’ Cycle First campaign – which he very publically opposes – has real potential to save many lives currently lost to poor air quality (4,500 die annually in London from poor air quality and tens of thousands suffer serious illness). What’s more, cycling improves fitness and helps reduce the weight gain, which has brought the UK to worldwide leadership in obesity and diabetes.

Health isn’t the only problem with London’s traffic. The population is increasing and cars with it. Unless people walk/cycle for shorter journeys or use public transport more often gridlock is inevitable. This must be tackled so David Burrowes makes an incomprehensible decision – unless you think he’s vote-seeking – to agree with the Green Lanes shopkeepers’ argument that car parking adjacent to shops is key to retail survival. Not in Britain’s very successful pedestrianised streets it isn’t, not according to case studies; even national car park providers can’t prove it.

In fact, case studies worldwide show that what most enables retail success is a pleasant public realm. And here we face the apparent inability of local shopkeepers/our MP to think strategically: in these days of internet shopping, high streets need to concentrate on what the internet can’t provide: an attractive, welcoming, traffic-calmed ambience; shops tailored to customers; service; perishable food; trying clothes before purchase; time-critical purchases, etc.

Some butchers and fishmongers survive on Green Lanes; convenience stores are taking trade from big-shed stores. All is not lost.

David Hughes

Palmers Green