A TRAFFIC-calming scheme earmarked for a quiet cul-de-sac in Colne was today slammed by a resident who said: "It would be a total waste of money."

Former Pendle Mayor Ian Gilhespy, of Haverholt Close, told Colne and District Committee that motorists do not do above 20 mph anyway and a plan by Lancashire County Council to install eight speed humps was unnecessary.

He said: "I was a bit shocked by this proposal. Once you get to Haverholt Close you are slowing down anyway because you are coming to a corner. A lot of people have rung the highways department to say we don't need them.

"Where they have sited some of the humps they'd be at the top of people's drives. It is a total waste of money. The county said it was down to accident statistics but there hasn't been an accident in Haverholt Close in access of the 20 years I have lived there.

"When we were looking for 20 mph zones originally I suggested the North Valley Estate because that was being used as a rat run but you can't have a rat run in a cul-de-sac. The only people going into that area are residents, visitors and delivery people who are going slowly anyway because they are looking for the numbers."

Colin Badminton, the council's principal engineer, highways and transport manager, said: "We were trying to get some response from residents so we could go back to county to say we don't need to do this. We have obviouslyhad a fair bit of response from residents and we will go back to county to try and get a change of mind on the severity of the measures needed in this close."