THE crossroads at Marsh House Lane/Roman Road/Hoddlesden Road, near Hoddlesden, Darwen, was recently the scene of yet another horrendous accident.

Commonly, I suppose you would now call this crossroads "a death trap." When is "enough is enough" going to be called and a Traffic calming roundabout provided?

Two years ago I attended a traffic calming meeting at Hoddlesden arranged by Councillor Fred Slater for villagers, which was visited by two council officers. Traffic was measured, but action was nil.

The council representative made an amazing statement that "nothing could be done because there had not been enough road accident deaths within a certain time scale." This criteria had to happen before a roundabout could be built.

The residents of Hoddlesden provide vast amounts of council tax money and, together with the recent government road building windfall of £5 million, a permanent calming measure could and should be put in place for residents' benefit.

It is obvious that there is more traffic through this crossroads since the opening of the M65, because the Roman Road is used as a feeder route to this motorway. It would be interesting to know if there is police and fire brigade support for what I am saying.

Action is needed now before the accident rate doubles from the present one per week. Is the council prepared to set aside party politics and provide, soonest, a permanent traffic calming roundabout?

FRANK HARROP, Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, Darwen.