I AM writing in response to letters which expressed criticism of the Princes Avenue/Astley Street traffic calming scheme.

Last November the Highways Committee, of which I am a member, received a report produced by Greater Manchester Transportation Unit which ranked 37 roads in terms of their accident statistics.

Princes Avenue/Astley Street came top with 28 personal injury road traffic accidents (including six pedestrian casualties) over a recent 36 month period.

That is the worst accident record in the whole of the borough.

This is a residential road and, as speed was a dominant factor, a traffic calming scheme, employing nationally accepted techniques was designed in the traffic section by a chartered engineer who specialises in accident prevention.

He has already modified the scheme in response to comments received and will continue to monitor its performance.

To date there has been little complaint from residents and, judging from your letters, the scheme is having the desired effect in slowing non-residents travelling through it.

Those same letters allege the scheme is a waste of public money.

It is ironic the front page of your April 9 edition highlighted a residents' demonstration following a tragic road accident at Shakerley.

There residents were calling for a scheme like the one in Astley Street. I am sure they would welcome this expenditure in their area.

Surely road safety must take priority over convenient motoring and, as it is not even finished yet, I would ask people to give the scheme a chance.

Cllr Stephen Hellier

Tyldesley East Ward

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