I READ with amusement the recent reports that Cambridgeshire constabulary have cracked down on illegal and anti-social parking. My wife was driving and I was the front seat passenger at Ridgeway recently. Fortunately she was driving slowly as we approa

I READ with amusement the recent reports that Cambridgeshire constabulary have "cracked down" on illegal and anti-social parking.

My wife was driving and I was the front seat passenger at Ridgeway recently. Fortunately she was driving slowly as we approached a van parked on a blind bend. She was forced to slam on her brakes as a car came round the bend on our side of the road to avoid the van. My shoulder was jarred by the seat belt and I have only recently undergone a third major operation on it.

The position of the van was an accident waiting to happen.

I telephoned the police to report the van being parked in a dangerous position but as nothing appeared to have been done, I telephoned again later that evening. I was advised a PCSO had attended and stated there was not a problem.

I asked to speak to a supervisory officer and a sergeant told me unless it was actually blocking a driveway the PCSOs would not do anything.

I insisted the van was parked dangerously and he said he would arrange for a police officer to attend. Again nothing seemed to have happened and I telephoned again and was informed nobody had been.

Subsequently, I wrote a letter of complaint to the Chief Constable as the van was an ongoing problem. She replied, saying she had delegated the matter to the divisional Chief Superintendent. He subsequently delegated it to another PCSO who called nine days later. He agreed there was a problem and spoke to the owner - who also agreed it was a stupid place to leave it.

The van is no longer parked there thanks to my persistence and a PCSO who actually had some initiative.

R F ATKIN

Ridgeway

Eynesbury