I WOULD like to again thank Brian Marks for his measured and factual comments in the SNJ of June 29.

He presents all the facts that he personally has taken the time to investigate and gather from not just our area but from across the country - unlike the two councillors pictured, who like to scare people into thinking that speed, and the slightest mention of it, is the only cause of any problems on the roads.

I would like to point out also that these are the same people who want to make sure our PCC Martin Surl spends stacks of his tight budget on cameras that really aren’t needed.

This is backed up by Brian’s facts about the average speed at maximum, around town being 25mph.

It seems to be that from a distance lots of people seem to be taken in by certain groups that report in such a way as to frighten everyone into their way of thinking.

May I also point out that your paper at times is also very guilty of this (although of course you are not alone, as the main tabloids are as bad).

I would like to backup this claim by pointing out that as soon as anyone mentions the word speed you have at least half a page of detail regarding the incident, usually backed up by quotes from councillors.

And in the case of the crashes back earlier this year on the A46, not even showing the straightness of the road in the correct place but choosing to picture Cllr Sarah Lunnon at the junction to Gloucester/Cheltenham.

Misleading, don’t you think?

Also only a couple of weeks ago, there was barely a paragraph regarding the young lad who stepped from behind a vehicle and was hit by a car.

I’m guessing this was because the vehicle was not speeding but you failed to mention this and it was so small that no one would have read it.

Please keep all things balanced!

Considering the way the papers and media and certain members quoted things over the past three months and the leave result, on the back of plenty of lies, perhaps you would think we have learnt a lesson!

Be fair and hurt the ones that actually flout the law, not just blanket everyone with the same brush.

Ray Relph

Stroud

Editor’s note - the articles to which you refer are simply a reflection of concerns about speeding or road safety, we are not trying to mislead our readers.