JIM Yates makes some rather broad sweeping and unfounded statements in his letter (LET August 19) including his comments about people who live in Tockholes.

Firstly he says 'One man speaks of his wife damaging her car' and then 'If she went slower it would probably not happen'. As I am the man to which Mr Yates refers, I therefore feel that I should make him clear on certain facts.

My wife has not damaged her car, it has been damaged, and there lies a distinct difference. Her vehicle has suffered from front end suspension failure attributed to, in the opinion of an experienced and fully qualified motor mechanic, the constant pounding of the speed humps. Many people with cars in the village are experiencing similar faults as well as ball joint and steering problems.

Mr Yates advises that if people in the village do not agree with the traffic- calming scheme 'they should move'. This would make an interesting scenario. All the farmers and the people who deliver milk would move. People who own stables and those with businesses would move. In fact most of the village would move.

However, we are not going to move. We are going to moan and argue and fight until Blackburn with Darwen Council fully re-evaluate this scheme and put in place something that works rather than the bone shaking, car breaking obstacle course that we all have to endure.

Finally, it makes me wonder why Mr Yates ever sets foot in Tockholes. He says that there are not many footpaths and describes the village as 'very dangerous', yet he manages to walk his way through two or three times a week. Amazing!

If he considers the place so dangerous, he should stay away and not pre-suppose that he has the right to tell the people of Tockholes what they should or should not do.

DAVID GROGAN, Tockholes Road, Tockholes.