I HAVE read your report in the Star (April 13) regarding the situation in Victoria Square and the fines being imposed on motorists by the police for entering the restricted area.

I do have a certain sympathy with the motorists as it is certainly not well signed until you are right upon the new diversion, but I can also understand the police. This is not really the police's doing -- the problem lies with this council. The police spokesman states: "It is basically a road safety problem, the area is pedestrianised." What a joke!

The area is not "pedestrianised". How can it be with buses, taxis, cycles and delivery vehicles using it. It is almost as big a joke as the Ormskirk Street/Bridge Street/Westfield Street "pedestrianised" area.

This council should make up its mind, we either have a pedestrianised town centre or we don't, there is really no reason for buses and taxis to use Bridge Street, Ormskirk Street or Westfield Street. For instance, why do buses travel on Ormskirk and Bridge Street -- there are no bus stops until the very bottom of Bridge Street outside the main post office. So come on St Helens Council, pedestrianise properly or not at all.

Mr K. Willans.

Beck Grove, Moss Bank