AS a former councillor and a motorist of 30 years' experience, I cannot understand the attitude of Adrian Shurmer and Kevin Elvey (Letters, May 18 and 19) regarding Traffic-calming measures.

I can assure them that from my extensive experience of canvassing in more than 20 elections in several areas of East Lancashire that one, if not the most, requested items from residents is for traffic-calming measures to be implemented in order to prevent accidents and reduce the speed of traffic.

I know that Blackburn with Darwen Council (and probably other East Lancashire councils) receives dozens of requests each year from residents requesting traffic-calming measures.

Mr Shurmer and Mr Elvey are obviously ignoring the facts that:

Local residents actually want traffic-calming measures

Traffic-calming measures work and prevent injury accidents

Speed kills, and traffic-calming measures do slow traffic down

Before implementation, the police, emergency services, local residents and businesses are consulted as to the design of the scheme. Without their support, schemes would not proceed.

Instead of making negative comments about local councillors and councils, Mr Shurmer and Mr Elvey should be praising them for their efforts to reduce traffic accidents and deaths.

NIGEL A NUTTALL, Harwood Street, Darwen.

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