SIR,

We are writing to you about the new traffic-calming scheme in Holden Road, Leigh.

The purpose of such calming measures are intended to slow down road users, to reduce accidents and increase safety. The methods for doing this include using road build outs, chicanes and humps.

The scheme in Holden Road uses bumps. The bumps have been arranged to try to slow down traffic and thereby ensure better road safety. Unfortunately, Holden Road has been carved up by the council and is leading to motorists carving up one another. The motorists are concentrating so much on steering inside and around the bumps that they are less aware of pedestrians who want to cross the busy road.

How often these days do drivers find themselves in traffic jams where to actually move at all is a great relief. Yet on local roads we all, we believe without exception, exceed the speed limit.

The so-called 'calming scheme' in Holden Road is not having the desired effect. Because, as we travel along Holden Road, we see motorists aiming, at speed, for the middle of the road in order to avoid the bumps. We would say that rather than having a calming effect the scheme is causing road rage.

Normally obstructed

A cycle lane has been introduced on each side of Holden Road, which is normally obstructed by vehicles parked at the roadside, so it is more hazardous for a cyclist to use the marked track than to cycle down the middle of the road. What a mess!

It appears to me that the government and local councils have forgotten what they are trying to do, namely slow down traffic. Other countries seem to have grasped the idea, that to slow down road users it is necessary to change the speed limit. Officially the speed limit on local roads, streets and avenues is 30mph.

We believe that the answer is for central and local government to be brave and forward looking by creating and enforcing lower local speed limits where appropriate. 20mph or less should apply, in particular where there are school children crossing and in general where there are pedestrian crossings.

Such a scheme, with lower speed limits, appears to have been successfully implemented in Billinge.

We all know that traffic congestion will get worse with time and we feel that if lower speed limits were to be set it would be right for the future.

Mr and Mrs Williams,

Thornycroft,

Leigh.