I WAS disappointed to read the letter from Maxine Hay (June 3) regarding my involvement in the A141 crossing at Kings Ripton Road, Huntingdon. As I was a candidate in the recent county council elections, I was unable to reply to Mrs Hay s letter any soone

I WAS disappointed to read the letter from Maxine Hay (June 3) regarding my involvement in the A141 crossing at Kings Ripton Road, Huntingdon. As I was a candidate in the recent county council elections, I was unable to reply to Mrs Hay's letter any sooner, due to the rules governing publicity at election time.

Mrs Hay obviously has a very short and selective memory regarding my involvement in the matter. I question whether she actually knows the meaning of "key figure".

It is interesting that both she and Warren's grandfather and many other members of the action group have thanked me for my help and support in obtaining funding for this crossing.

As the Mayor of Huntingdon at the time of Warren's death, I again lambasted Cambridgeshire County Council for the lack of crossing facilities at this junction. I, along with Councillor Tom Sanderson, met and advised the action group on the way forward. One of Maxine's close friends e-mailed me and asked me how to start off a petition and if I could help. The wording I wrote in the petition had all the hard-hitting points necessary to make all three levels of local councils sit up and take notice.

It was also my suggestion that signs should be put along the A141 to help gain further support for the group. I spoke at town, district and county councils on this matter. I was forthright in my views and insisted on financial support from all councils at a time when finances were short.

I have spoken at many council meetings when the A141was on the agenda and at many private meetings. I have made dozens of phone calls and written many e-mails and letters to all three councils in an attempt to get more funding.

Had I had remained with the action group I would not have been in a position to be as forceful as I have been able.

Maxine mentioned my memory. I have an excellent memory regarding my involvement in the issue. It is true I wanted to explore all avenues to achieve a safe crossing in this place. However, Mrs Hay is wrong in her belief, as is The Hunts Post, regarding who proposed the lights at this junction.

I am on record in 1999 and again in 2003 and again in 2004 when I wrote to the then leader of county council, Keith Walters, regarding traffic lights here. I also e-mailed Shona Johnstone when she was leader and Mac McGuire, on several occasions, and more recently I have also spoken to Jill Tuck, the current leader, and the former cabinet member for transport, Matt Bradney, on several occasions.

Councillor JEFF DUTTON

Huntingdonshire District, Cambridgeshire County and Godmanchester Town Councils

Editor's note: There is nothing in the electoral rules that would have prevented Cllr Dutton responding sooner. It was this newspaper that first proposed the light-controlled crossing as a compromise solution between the county council's initial preference for banning right turns and the action group's original call for a pedestrian footbridge.