I write in response to Cllr David Jolley's letter in last week's Times, in which he claimed he was 'abstaining in protest' at the proposed modifications to J19. I'm sorry, but councillors abstaining in any vote is not a luxury that the residents of Portis

I write in response to Cllr David Jolley's letter in last week's Times, in which he claimed he was 'abstaining in protest' at the proposed modifications to J19.I'm sorry, but councillors abstaining in any vote is not a luxury that the residents of Portishead can afford. In this case it served no purpose other than to allow a flawed proposal to be approved by only one third of the council.We have now got an inappropriate plan foisted on us which, had Cllr Jolley and his fellow abstainers voted against in protest it would have gone back to the drawing board, perhaps for some real consultation with those who actually use the junction every day.Just to reiterate the problems Portishead has with its roads: There was little consultation for the so-called 'improvements' at St Joseph's School - and what a mess that is. And no consultation at all for the complete shambles at Cabstand.Aren't the people who have no real alternative to driving on these roads intelligent enough to have a valid opinion?Carolyn RoweRichmond Close, Portishead