CIVIC Observer's letter (Yours Truly, Nov 1) is misleading and overlooks some very important facts.

The installation of cycle lanes is a measure taken to improve the safe passage of users. Until their introduction, the only safe alternative, particularly for children, was to use the pavement, thereby jeopardising the safety of pedestrians. Furthermore, would Civic Observer be so selfish as to deny cyclists their equal right to use what are public roads?

It is government policy to create viable alternatives to the car. Surely it must be only too apparent that the ever-increasing dependency on car use is the main cause of traffic congestion and that, whichever government is in office, the problem has to be addressed. Civic Observer's implication that Bury MBC is somehow imposing the building of a £6 million museum on Radcliffe without due public consultation and agreement is also totally without foundation.

The decision to build a complex, which will contain not only a state-of-the-art museum but also a new market, galleries and conference centre, was arrived at by joint consultation with Radcliffe councillors, the expertise of qualified council employees, local businesses and representatives of the local community. The whole decision was made democratically on a local level and Civic Observer could have been a part of the process simply by attending the Radcliffe Area Board meetings.

Moreover, the new complex has been designed by the world-class architect John Pawson, whose brief was to create something that will draw shoppers, tourists, and enterprising new businesses to an exciting and re-invigorated Radcliffe.

Perhaps Civic Observer has his/her own ideas as to what would shape Radcliffe's future? If so, by putting pen to paper again, he/she could make us all aware of them in the next issue of the Bury Times.

DEREK SANDFORD,

Bury Street, Radcliffe.