A CORONER'S call for action following a fatal road accident in Accrington has justified work to provide Traffic calming measures, says a Hyndburn councillor.

Coroner Andre Rebello wrote to the council suggesting calming measures in Plantation Street following an accident which claimed the life of an elderly pedestrian.

But a scheme was already being prepared for the area before the tragedy, Hyndburn environmental services committee was told.

Coun Ian Ormerod said: "We are continually being lambasted in the newspapers by a minority for traffic calming.

"It's sad we have to be in this position, but the Coroner has vindicated us in suggesting we have traffic calming and we were already preparing a scheme before this happened."

"People write into newspapers suggesting there are other ways of slowing traffic down. If there were other ways that could be used successfully they would be used. "Traffic calming is being introduced throughout the country and it is to this council's credit we were in the vanguard.

"We can hold our heads up proud that we have attempted to slow down traffic."

Coun Peter Britcliffe said he was equally against anti-social driving.

But he added that some of the early measures of great big humps were "ridiculous" and said he defied anyone to understand the double roundabout in Great Harwood.

Coun Britcliffe added: "We have to draw the line between traffic calming and going over the top."

Committee chairman Coun Len Dickinson, said: " Over the years we have learned to do the job better.

"Possibly the first were not as good as they might have been but the situation is getting better because we have learned a lot and listened to people."

The same meeting threw its full backing behind government proposals to free local traffic authorities from the need for the Secretary of State's consent to introduce 20mph speed limits.

A letter is to go to the Coroner advising him of the council's support for the amended legislation.

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