Letter: Can Shrewsbury afford a 'Boris bike' scheme?

Letter: I read that the MP for Shrewsbury is backing the idea of a "free" bicycle hire scheme in the town (Star, January 17).

May I suggest that first of all he looks into the true cost of the Mayor of London's scheme to which "sponsors", Barclays bank has donated nowhere near the total figure. The city's ratepayers are contributing far more.

As for asking Shrewsbury Town Council for their help, these are the people whose contributions to a cycling-friendly borough leave a lot to be desired.

Was it a good idea to allow dogs to be unleashed in Victoria Avenue, which is a national cycling route, through The Quarry? Or to reject the opportunity to provide adequate lighting along there when funds were available?

One councillor famously, and fatuously, remarked that street lights were not necessary as cyclists "have their own lights".

Try telling that to people of a nervous disposition, parents of schoolchildren - yes, and dog walkers - lone joggers and so on for whom the area has become increasingly menacing after dark.

This is the main traffic- free route across town and deserved better.

There are county council staff qualified and with funds available to improve the lot of cyclists. May I suggest that our MP has a word with them about suggestions concerning cycle hire which have been mooted at regularly convened cyclists' forums? One idea was to utilise the former parcels area at Shrewsbury station.

All that is needed is a dealer willing to provide machines for hire and sale plus repairs.

Name and address supplied