I APPLAUD Hyndburn Borough Council for its efforts to ban the 'A' boards from pavements, but in comparison with the proliferation of obstacles placed there by the council they are relatively insignificant.

The photograph of Mr Johnson's van outside his shop includes one of the council bollards which, coupled with a strategically placed 'A' board, creates a typical part of the obstacle course.

Within the last week or two, a whole new set of posts have been erected on Accrington pavements, carrying sign boards of non-essential information.

I am sure that without the expense of all this street clutter, the cuts in the library services would not be necessary.

So, come on councillors, put yourselves in the shoes of a pram pushing mother or maybe a blind or partially sighted person and stand back and have a look along the pavements.

ERIC LORD, Lynwood Road, Huncoat.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.