I HAD to look twice at the Oxford Mail and the Sun newspapers recently to check it wasn’t April 1, after I read about ‘unusual’ road markings.

In the Sun was a story of a ‘zebra’ skin pattern print crossing, instead of standard black and white zebra crossing.

In the Mail there was a story about double yellow lines on both sides of a road, which continued unbroken at 90 degrees across the road and adjacent to a raised partially flattened ‘sleeping policeman’, apparently used as a pedestrian crossing.

Are council ‘planners’ having yet more brainstorms?

This is not a legal application, so why shouldn’t this be legally treated by the police any differently than any other graffiti? And which council official will be held responsible if a child dies there as a result?

Now, thankfully, due to public complaint (rather than common sense), these will be removed and hopefully replaced by real zebra crossings.

As the double yellow lines are continuous across the road, the lines on the side of the road do not have the short – legally required – closing line and are therefore illegal.

This leaves the roads open for vehicle parking with any subsequent ticket unenforceable in law. This principle was upheld in a previous court case.

So, ‘planners’, if you wish to be treated seriously, please get your act in order and stick to legal road regulations. Does ISO9001 ring a bell with anybody?

MICK HEAVEY, Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford