ONCE upon a time there was a small village called Old Worle. The inhabitants were surrounded by open fields. The dwellings were connected by lanes that accommodated

ONCE upon a time there was a small village called Old Worle. The inhabitants were surrounded by open fields. The dwellings were connected by lanes that accommodated the horse and cart, the locals, and their children moved around in safety. This continued for many years, and then residents saw new encampments on the horizon, and in less than two score years their idyllic village was completely surrounded by new dwellings. The greedy barons of the day gave little thought to the plight of Old Worle, and they continued to build encampments as far as the eye could see. To accommodate the iron horse the barons built new roads but instead of bypassing Old Worle the roads led the inhabitants through the village. The time came when each of the new families owned an iron horse. Eventually they owned at least two and in many cases three. The barons were approached many times over the two score years, yet they continually ignored the pleas of the inhabitants of Old Worle who feared for their lives. The road structures around the village were built to accept the iron horse, and the pedestrians who walked on a new structure called pavements.Eventually the barons were replaced by a body called councillors who unlike the barons were elected by the local residents. Old Worle residents were ecstatic, as they believed those elected would see their plight and would right the wrongs inflicted upon them. Yet again the years passed, which saw many meetings, and much parchment completed. Much of the money collected from the inhabitants passed to men of knowledge who were asked to decide whether the pleas of Old Worle were founded. The men of knowledge were called upon twice, and on each occasion they agreed their pleas were justified. However the councillors realised the inhabitants of Old Worle were in number, and they were afraid the thousands in the encampments around Old Worle would not re-elect them should they stop their iron horses passing through their favoured route to Weston. The councillors contrived a scheme whereby a new type of baron called an executive member was solely responsible for making decisions, thereby giving the councillors the ability to state "Peter Burden is responsible not us, he can go in the stocks".This new baron, who lived many miles away, looked at the parchment and declared: "The benefits of a one-way system and pavements are outweighed by the disadvantages". Clearly the voting power of the encampments who walk on pavements had triumphed. Baron Burden has since gone, but fear not, inhabitants of the new encampments who walk on pavements, your councillors have a new baron to hide behind!One such councillor who promised to help the forgotten residents of Old Worle has instead built a bridge (pedestrian crossing) in her own encampment for the mystical race who appear to be invisible, as posted lookouts have failed to see humans using the bridge! This area above Ashcombe Park has a straight road, 99 per cent of visitors park adjacent to the park, and pavements on both sides of the road. Was this constructed due to recorded accidents, or solely because those in her ward thought it would be nice? We have an urgent and justifiable need! To all those councillors who let us down, give it your attention leave the easy vote catching projects, stand up and be counted.We should not be treated like second-class citizens, and furthermore we are simply asking for the features everyone else has, pavements and the right to walk our streets without fearing for our lives. Finally, to the residents of Old Worle, we may be few but make your voice heard, harass the councillors, or accept the situation that soon outside your home there will be gridlock. Do you want to look at a car park every day? We all know the councillors who betrayed our cause. Therefore don't vote for them!NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED