SIR: I applaud the proposals put forward by Councillor Martin Tod to improve traffic in Winchester in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic (Chronicle, May 14). They provide a detailed and well considered way forward for safe movement, prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. They may not be popular with those in the surrounding area used to accessing the city by car, but there has long been an imbalance in favour of private vehicles and it’s time for a new direction.

The issue isn’t only safe distancing but also air pollution, a severe problem in Winchester. Research is showing that poor air quality caused by traffic congestion is a factor in the spread of the virus. It may have played a part in making Winchester an area with one of the highest infection rates in the UK, also reported in last week’s Chronicle.

E.J. Clery,

Arthur Road,

Hyde,

Winchester