THE government and its various agencies have been accused of using opportune moments to put out bad news or items it wished to mask.

It is most unfortunate the Hereford Times was inveigled into this form of deceit, by the distribution of a Highways Agency/Ministry of transport flyer on December 24.

I would anticipate that, over Christmas, this was not as widely read as normal. Thus fewer people than normal would have read of the crass stupidity of the Edgar Street designated lane.

This is proposed for a short distance past Hereford United ground to carry heavy goods vehicles, buses and cyclists en route to Tesco's roundabout.

As a one time HGV licence holder and a cyclist both these classes of road user can tell anyone they are mutually incompatible.

It is about time the worthy burgers of Hereford woke up to the fact that congestion in the city could be cut by some sensible provision for cyclists.

The present piecemeal arrangements are little short of a disgrace; perhaps some councillors should go to York and study the provision there or visit many European cities where cyclists are not treated as an unwanted intrusion by the motoring masses.

DAVID HINDS,

East Street, Pembridge.