The trial to turn off the Cabstand traffic lights in Portishead is reckless and dangerous.

Cllr Ap Rees assumes that there will be co-operation between the motorist and pedestrian on a junction involving four different streams of traffic.

In particular, the right-hand turn from the end of the High Street into Wyndham Way, with traffic approaching in the opposite direction from the bottom of the Cabstand, and traffic turning left and right from Wyndham Way towards the High Street and the Cabstand.

It is indeed a recipe for further disaster and is in keeping with the way in which North Somerset Council has dealt with this issue since its inception. Prior to any work on this junction, we had within our grasp a perfectly sensible solution – do nothing, after all that's what North Somerset Council is usually prone to do in Portishead.

I fear for the safety of the car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in this 'trial' and it is clear that North Somerset Council will be deemed negligent in creating this chaos. My only hope is that there is not a serious accident as a result of the council's stupidity.

Stop this nonsense.

Withdraw from the "trial" and start behaving with responsibility on matters concerning Portishead – instead of using Portishead as a poor relation to Weston-super-Mare.

Andy Hamblin, Portishead.

● I AM writing to give my whole-hearted support for the trial switching off of the Portishead Cabstand lights.

I am a local business owner where since the introduction of the lights my business has suffered. Deliveries take longer because of the extra long wait, the High Street is filled with smoke and pollution not to mention the noise.

Also, safety seems not to be an argument as the number of times motorists go through red lights, because they have been waiting so long, seems to create risk not reduce it.

Time and again we hear the same small majority of voices who state there unhappiness at the trial switch-off on safety grounds. A business owner on the high states it is unsafe because his wife cannot take a short-cut through stationary traffic on her mobility scooter.

Despite there being two crossings on the High Street for this lady to cross, the logic and selfishness behind this argument I find unbelievable.

Unlike any other issue I can remember, there has never been such overwhelming public opinion against these lights and the problems they cause. Two well-turned out public marches, the support of local MPs, and internet polls all in favour of switching off.

My only problem with the trial decision is hearing the trial can be pulled at any time. Why? This gives rise to the chance the tiny minority not in favour to ruin/spoil create problems.

Let's support the vast majority and welcome the best news in Portishead for years for years – switch off the lights forever!

Chris Delgado,

Local business owner and resident.

● WHEN is an experiment not an experiment? Surely the whole purpose of an experiment is to create the best conditions for good outcome and then, depending upon the result, declare the experiment a success or failure.

In the case of Cabstand, one must question if this experiment is well intentioned or if it is a stunt designed to fail. It is patently obvious that just bagging the signal heads is a safety nightmare – leading to the experiment being abandoned and the signals restored, just what the council would wish to save any expenditure.

On the plans of the proposals, the crossing of Wyndham Way to the petrol station is barriered off. Just where do the engineers think people will cross? Via the grassed area?

Can I suggest that people visit the North Somerset website and examine the "exemption report" for the Cabstand experiment? In this report, an officer of the council has examined the detail of the experimental scheme (actually he seems to have relied on past knowledge and photographs, as he had no plan on which to base his findings) and has made some sensible suggestions as to how to address safety issues arising from the changes.

Each and every suggestion is rebutted with a stock phrase that "the junction will be observed during the trial and in the event of user behaviour that is considered an unacceptable risk either additional measures will be put in place or the trial will be abandoned."

Now I wonder if the council has a stock of "additional measures" or whether abandonment is the easy and cheapest option. I would urge the good residents of Portishead to take extra care during the experiment so that it can be declared a success and perhaps with a few changes the town can have a junction that works for all.

M Jacobs, Portishead.