TRAFFIC islands, chicanes, cameras and high-speed driving ...it sounds like something out of a Grand Prix race and the current battle for the Formula One world championship. But this is the village of Egerton and it's a war of words over a controversial traffic scheme that's caused a public outcry.

Highways chiefs believe their scheme for reducing traffic hazards on the main road through the village is so good it could be entered for a competition - although residents say it has created as many risks as it tried to solve.

After a public campaign, councillors wisely decided to follow the advice of their highways experts and refine the scheme, with various moves to try and make it safer for both village residents and drivers. But the fact that it has apparently cut speeds on this stretch of Blackburn Road to around 33mph says something for its effectiveness.

Fine tuning is often the key to success in those mighty Formula One cars. It's obviously what's necessary to make a well-intentioned scheme with a lot of good sense really work as it should.

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