Time to end humps madness

"The worst speed bumps in Britain". What an accolade for the moribund dominant group on Great Wyrley Parish Council!

The problem is not, however, confined to one hump, but to a proliferation of traffic calming measures that defile this village. They slow down emergency services, damage vehicles and cause discomfort to the disabled.

Despite facing fierce criticism from several hundreds of disgruntled residents at an overflowing public meeting in 2001, the council decided to go ahead with the scheme.

A subsequent independent survey, commissioned by the county council, revealed that 85 per cent of all residents were opposed to the measures. The report was never published, and the scheme was extended further.

The cost of providing traffic calming in Great Wyrley, including illuminated signs, came to a staggering £248,412 (verified by Staffordshire Highways).

This disgraceful waste of public money might be forgiven, had it achieved its declared objective of saving lives. Statistics reveal that deaths and serious injuries have increased considerably since traffic calming measures were implemented across the country. We have slipped from having the safest roads in Europe to a position of 27th. Hardly a ringing endorsement of this infamous scheme!

Those of us who have consistently resisted traffic calming measures since their inception, were reviled as "morons" by a parish councillor. The general public can now judge who best befits the "moronic" tag!

Fortunately, the damage to our roads is not irreparable. What was put down in a moment of madness can be taken up again in a flash of sanity.

It is up to the general public to pound their local councillors into the ground until they rectify the damage done to the community. It can be done, but without the involvement of local residents, the situation will remain resolved until the next, politically motivated, harebrained scheme, is inflicted upon us.

Alan V Harrison, Julian Close, Great Wyrley.