WITH reference to the article that appeared in the Bolton Evening News on May 19 headlined "Traffic calming brews up a storm".

As Councillors for the Tonge Ward, we are inundated with requests from residents for traffic calming in all parts of Tonge.

At every Residents' Association meeting that we attend, traffic calming is always on the agenda.

We explain to our constituents that there are demands for calming all over the Borough and that, as consequence, there is in effect a 'waiting list'.

We have currently only one traffic-calming scheme in Tonge, in the vicinity of Moorgate School, which is backed by the local people.

Not surprisingly, it is opposed by those people who do not live in Tonge but like to drive past the school at 60 miles an hour on their shortcut home.

Now the Conservative policy is out in the open and they have clearly stated that they will "review" traffic calming (code for remove) if they take control of the council.

It should be remembered that calming is never implemented in an area without the firm backing of the local residents and councillors there.

Therefore Cllr Guy Harkin is quite right in saying that if individual Tory Councillors oppose traffic calming in their wards, then schemes in the pipeline should be cancelled and instead installed in areas where there is clearly the backing of the Labour or Lib Dem councillors.

So if the Tory councillors kindly let us know as soon as possible which schemes in their wards they would like cancelling, we as councillors for Tonge can get on with the business of bringing the Tonge schemes forward in the programme.

Councillors Nick Peel,

Elaine Sherrington

and Frank White

(Tonge Ward)