I read with great concern the report on the closure of the pedestrian subway on the A270 (The Argus, January 9) and the dangers faced by parents and children trying to cross this treacherous road.

It is not acceptable for Brighton and Hove City Council to refuse to do anything to protect them.

If one of the car lanes had been flooded, swift action would have been taken to ensure cars could have used the remaining lanes safely.

But because only pedestrians were affected, the council sees fit to do nothing but wait for the water to subside and, in the meantime, direct pedestrians to a crossing more than a quarter of mile away.

On a typical school day, this would add more than two miles to the journeys to and from school for parents and young children.

If the council is serious about its claim to be encouraging walking as a sustainable means of transport around the city, it must do more to protect its walkers when key safe crossings are out of action.

Looking at the longer term, I very much hope the council will listen carefully to residents' requests for a covered footbridge.

Not only is the underpass a continued risk of flooding, it is also unpopular with unaccompanied schoolchildren because of the risk of bullying.

Instead of using the underpass, they prefer to take their chances crossing the lanes of traffic.

A safe, attractive crossing is needed at this point. In 2001, the council successfully bid for government funding for safe crossings on Dyke Road and Old Shoreham Road as part of a Safe Routes to School scheme.

Both have been hugely successful with local schoolchildren and residents.

Last month, the Government announced extra funding to double the number of such schemes and I urge the council to apply for funds to improve this much-needed crossing on the A270.

-Polly Strauss, Stanford Crocodile Safe Routes to School Group, Chanctonbury Road, Hove