I REFER to the debate that is taking place in the columns of your newspaper regarding the proposals to develop fast food outlets at Windle and Carr Mill road junctions.

It appears that two main issues are subject to discussion - possible increased traffic and general litter problems.

Nobody doubts the fact that the East Lancs Road is extremely busy and urban speed limits do not apply on what is essentially an expressway. The junctions along the route are not designed for expressway travel. As such they provide the potential for conflict between expressway users and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The question posed is will the construction of a fast food outlet on the residential side of the road really pose a great threat to road safety? Perhaps the opposite effect might apply and the local roads may become safer due to increased traffic congestion?

More congestion reduces road speed. A reduction in road speed makes roads safer for vulnerable users. Yet, local authorities struggle to ensure free flowing movement of urban traffic at the expense of more and better pedestrian facilities. The motoring lobby actively pursues such a policy; one has only to look at resistance to traffic calming from the "average motorist."

I strongly believe that the construction of any facility that slows down traffic should be welcomed in an urban area. There is an opportunity to build into the proposed scheme a number of high quality pedestrian links which could address the historic problems at the Windle island location.

The fast food development then becomes a catalyst for change and perhaps, there is an opportunity to extract some funding from the developer through planning gain. Burger and fries and a safe walk home seems quite a desirable order! Turning now to the litter issue .The Mclibel case - 1990 attempted to demonstrate that fast food restaurants create excess litter. Evidence from the Kings Road in Chelsea clearly showed a tremendous increase in litter following the opening of the restaurant. Simple logic, a new restaurant will increase litter in the local area.

Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that. The packaging of consumer goods from the humble biscuit to the sturdy washing machine all involve the production of gratuitous packaging. Our weekly consumption of food and materials in the home contributes to the demand for more and more landfill sites. In some areas of the borough, local residents activly take part in festivals of litter. Schools, shopping centres, pubs and clubs all compete to drape as much litter as possible throughout the area.

The answer is not the closure or prohibition of such facilities, it involves a change in culture. All of us are guilty. We litter directly or indirectly. The discarded cigarette, the confetti at the wedding or the artistic arrangement of chips and gravy on the pavement are all degrees of the same problem. Passing the blame onto children who use the fast food restaurants is the easy way out. After all, we as adults are the role models are we not?

It is time to address the core issues. Remove excess packaging, this requires concerted effort by consumers. Insist that fast food restaurants cut down on their packaging and increase their litter patrols beyond the confines of the facility sponsorship of local street cleaning facilities would be good PR for such companies!

Promote recycling - The UK is required by EC directive to recycle 50% of packaging by 2001. This appears to be a rather ambitious target. The provision of more local recycling centres is vital to achieve such a strategy. Its a pity that the Merseyside Waste Disposal authority recently closed the Billinge recycling site and local residents there are now required to dump their rubbish onto the good people of Rainford.

To conclude I have attempted to explore the local issues with regard to the bigger picture.

Perhaps there is an opportunity to create a meeting place along with a safe haven for local people. How many times have we heard the complaint that young people have nowhere to go in the evenings, they are restricted to loitering on dark streets. Here, perhaps is an opportunity to create a pseudo drop in centre for all age groups.

Furthermore, the provision of a well lit restaurant along with toilets and telephones would also provide refuge and a point of communication especially in the dark winter months.

Martin Powell (via e-mail).