SIR – The £3m Manchester Road Red Bridge was designed by Barra Mac Ruairi. He says it was to complement the “all singing and dancing” red bus shelters which were built in the centre of the road in 2002.

Based on the somewhat sketchy figures available, current usage equates to approx 133,000 crossings per year inclusive of both cyclists and pedestrians.

Exclusive of interest and probably quite expensive painting and maintenance costs, a ten-year payback of the £3m equates to £2.25 for each individual crossing.

Actual figures for 12-month usage are still not available, but they should detail a comparison with the usage of the demolished former bridge.

However, most meaningful would be a numerical survey of those who crossed the road and declined to use the bridge with reasons why.

While it may be claimed that half the cost was a grant, it was all money which we have had to pay in taxes and levies and not ‘monopoly money’, so we have a right to question the cost benefit of its use.

John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon