MAY I comment on the letter by Mrs Barrow (February 26) regarding the most unsatisfactory junction of the A6 into Blackrod.

As Mrs Barrow says, the reduction in height of both bollards, rather than just the one as at present on the A6 side of the traffic island, would improve the situation a little.

There are, however, several other contributing factors to be taken into consideration. First, of course, it must be borne in mind that for three vehicles to be involved in an accident at this particular junction requires at least one of the drivers to be at fault. These things do not simply happen. For example, Mrs Barrow states that one cannot see if a vehicle travelling on the A6 in the direction of Chorley is signalling or not. In that case, the driver waiting to emerge on to a major road from a minor one must ensure that it is safe to do so before he proceeds forward.

The Highways Authorities are, of course, seriously at fault in the design of this junction. The bottom end of Manchester Road is a 30mph zone up to, unbelievably, about 20 yards from the junction, where it becomes 40mph. Thus, while every fibre of your being tells you that there is a hazardous situation ahead, the authorities are, in effect, telling you that it is safe to accelerate, which is exactly what many of the "urgent, must get there first" brigade do.

I have long believed that the bottom end of Manchester Road, from at least the primary school to almost the junction, should be, and safely at that, 40mph, dropping down to 30mph for the junction.

Mrs Barrow mentions the complaints of Blackrod council to Bolton Metro about this junction, and cites 1976 as the start. When Bolton submitted the plans to Blackrod council for their comments and suggestions, just how hard did Blackrod complain about the entire design of it? Did they complain about the cost of the unnecessary and silly chicane that transformed a gentle bend in the road into a frustrating "wiggle" in the road, when the best procedure would have been a simple line across the road as they have now, plus a slow sign?

Mr F Isherwood

Latham Road

Blackrod

Bolton