Miles Hargreaves (Nov 5) seems to be living in the 1930s as he’s under the misapprehension that there is such a thing as “road tax”.

Since 1937, the money from vehicle excise duty has gone into central government revenues and is not used specifically for road building or maintenance.

The roads of this country (with the exception of motorways) are for the benefit of everyone, regardless of whether they choose to drive, ride or walk.

Mr Hargreaves will discover that horses do have equal rights to use the roadways and it is a disgrace that Southend’s councillors sit in council meetings making jokes about Pegasus crossings instead of approving their installation.

Just because Mr Hargreaves has chosen to spend his money on a car doesn’t give him the right to ignore other road users’ needs. He’d probably find his journey was quicker by bicycle anyway, as he wouldn’t have to sit in the traffic jams that annoy him so much.

Denis Walker
East Street
Southend

...If we follow Miles Hargreaves’s logic that unless a tax disc, test and insurance are possessed then there is no right for a crossing on the road, in this case the A127 at Progress Road, then no cyclists have a right to use the road, nor indeed do pedestrians.

I suggest he consults his Highway Code to refresh his memory as to who has the right to use the public highway.

Just because motor vehicles dominate our roads, it does not mean their drivers and riders are the only ones with rights.

Davina Baynes
Hall Road
Rochford

...I think horses have “grandfather” rights like ancient cars! So no tax or MoT required.

Our horses do have insurance and I am glad the last driver who hit me and my horse was insured.

The driver gained six points and a hefty fine and I gained a lasting disability.

This is why I took part in the protest hoping to save someone else my fate.

If the council doesn’t have the courage to change its mind – the cost would be minimal – a person on life support would cost a fortune.

Jennie Goodchild
Oak Walk
Benfleet