WHEN I first saw the St Denys scheme to encourage active travellers, I was impressed by the foresight and vision and wished it could have happened years ago.

I teach adult cycling skills under the MyJourneySouthampton scheme and the former ‘rat run’ which I cycle from Highfield/ University to Bitterne Manor has been transformed ‘from hell to heaven’ by the ban on through motor traffic on Kent Rd and the creation of an attractive active travel route through St Denys.

Prior to this, motorists used the route as an alternative to queuing on A3035 St Denys Rd/Thomas Lewis Way junction, causing a constant queue of idling engines blocking and polluting narrow Priory Rd and the junction to Cobden Bridge, thus making it hazardous and confrontational for cyclists and a deterrent to those willing to modal shift from motor to active travel.

As with all innovations, the infrastructure needs to be in place for a good while for would be modal-shifters to take the plunge. There are indeed plenty of them given the numbers of trainee adult cyclists contacting me but don’t underestimate the big and courageous step being taken by these people.

Removing such innovations will destroy their confidence in an invisible and irreversible way, and all unseen by decision makers!

Councillors have the power to build a heaven or condemn to hell – do not allow a self-motivated few with short term vision to deter you.

Make the St Denys modal filters permanent.

Dilys Gartside Southampton