THE majority of roads in Bolton were never built to support the exponential increase in traffic of recent years. Is there a solution?

Anything major would be difficult, expensive and unpopular.

With terraced houses lining the main roads into and out of town, road widening is pretty much out the question.

Our beleaguered public transport system needs radical reform in order to become a viable alternative to our cars though. A severe cash injection is required as it is a disgrace - it is expensive, unsafe, irregular and uncomfortable.

Bolton Council's piecemeal attempts at road infrastructure are laughable - plenty of efforts at traffic safety, but none at keeping traffic moving. As already insubstantial bus services are scrapped, the council approves some of the most hair-brained schemes I've ever seen. Chicanes, traffic lights, speed bumps, road narrowing, "re-marking" the list goes on.

The streets are only going to get busier, but there is no sign of any definitive solution on the horizon. With more houses being built every month, I can only equate Bolton's roads to a slowly setting bucket of cement. One day, it's going to stick solid.

Stephen Massey, Bromley Cross, Bolton