SOME days ago I had the pleasure of meeting Councillor Adrian Shurmer for the first time. He was one of several people making up a delegation from Hyndburn Council.

We met to discuss issues about road safety, a matter that I take very seriously indeed.

We were able to present detailed evidence in the form of before and after data relating to road accidents that strongly supports the view that traffic-calming schemes are highly effective.

Coun Shurmer, however, despite all the evidence to the contrary, takes the view that traffic-calming is not effective and that the only way of reducing crashes on the roads is through driver training.

Quite by coincidence, while surfing the Internet that evening, I came across a web site from a Mr Adrian Shurmer, of Accrington, advertising his services for driver training.

Is this the same Mr Shurmer?

I seem to remember that there is a very clear code of practice that is binding on all councillors, even independent ones.

Councillors are duty bound to declare an interest when discussing matters as a councillor, even if it is not directly of benefit to them.

Councillors are advised to err on the side of caution so that there can be no implication that they are involved in sleaze.

This is even the case if there is some non-pecuniary interest.

Your business interests have to remain divorced from your public duty and that separation has to be made clearly apparent to everyone.

Coun Shurmer seems to think that the county council does not recognise the importance of education and training in seeking the goal of improved road safety.

In fact, the county council has a very extensive programme of education, starting with children in schools.

We provide specialised training, for example, for motor cyclists and for mini bus drivers.

We undertake the training, on behalf of the Lancashire Constabulary, for those convicted in the courts of driving offences, where this is appropriate.

Just like other councillors, council officers and the police, I will not submit myself to a written examination, set by Mr Shurmer, where only he thinks that he knows all the answers.

But I am prepared to share good, sound sensible ideas from whatever source, even from Coun Shurmer, if that will contribute to a reduction in the tragic accidents on Lancashire's roads.

The county council will work in partnership with Hyndburn Council, whatever its political persuasion, to make the roads in Hyndburn safer. But we will not be employing local district councillors to do the work for us.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR RICHARD TOON, Chair of highways and transportation, Lancashire County Council.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.