WE now see daily reports of horrific and very distressing road injuries which we know causes much pain to those families who see the suffering from these tragic accidents.

Often it’s no pleasure driving on many of our roads, more so with ever-increasing developments affecting the surrounding conurbation.

I have over past years done a few talks on my life as a footplate fireman in the better days (60s) when we had the many branch line connections that served from then Bournemouth West Station all stations to Poole, Broadstone (Somerset and Dorset line), Wimborne, West Moors, through to Salisbury/Ringwood and on to Brockenhurst (known as the old road).

There are ever-increasing developments in the south, all adding to yet more traffic problems.

As we all know these roads were never built to cater for the vast increase in vehicle movement, and will get worse.

Governments were short-sighted in their decision to destroy network railway lines like the Somerset and Dorset line to Bath/Poole and Bournemouth that nowadays could and should have provided development opportunities by linking development with the rail network.

RON WHITTAKER

Glenmeadows Drive, Bournemouth