WE have recently received in Upper Parkstone a pamphlet explaining that £1million is to be invested in improvements for Ashley Road.

Along with the pamphlet there is a questionnaire asking us our views on improvements.

Having lived in Upper Parkstone for over 50 years we were delighted to read the question, do we agree or disagree with “reducing the dominance of motor vehicles over pedestrians"?

And our answer: We could not agree more. Please, Poole council, if you can achieve this it would be a huge improvement for our area.

People don’t realise but in the 1950s into the 1960s Upper Parkstone was largely homes with nice gardens, and the high street all pedestrians, very few cars. Very easy to cross the road.

But now it is a traffic nightmare that has gradually taken over.

Our homes are black with carbon dirt, most of the gardens have all gone, replaced by concrete car parking. Everywhere you look traffic and pollution, even vehicles parked on our pavements.

If Poole council can turn the dominance of vehicles over pedestrians to residents and pedestrians first then they will be doing a great service to this area. And if that requires directing traffic down to Bournemouth A-Road, and pedestrianising part of Ashley Road, then council certainly gets our vote.

JOHN AND IRENE COOPER, Churchill Road, Parkstone