RITA Riding refers to the "stupid motorist" not recognising a cycle lane (BEN: October 30), but she should be careful just who she is

calling stupid, lest she finds herself wearing the dunce's cap, if it fits.

As to which planet the councillors originate from, they could pose the same question to her. Surely most BEN readers already know that these recent road schemes are designed to do two things. Read on Rita and learn.

1. Safety, and keeping people who use our roads alive is the councillors' priority. This includes motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. It is the Central Government Department of Transport and the Environment, which makes the Council carry out these works of "road narrowing" with hatched areas to prevent 'lunatic overtaking' and to reduce speeds generally. Already the level of serious accidents on Moss Bank Way is dramatically reduced, as also is the case on St.Peter's Way, Bolton.

2. The Council, along with all other Councils, is able to bid for

massive grants (£millions) from European sources and provided the Council attaches some of our money -- Community Charge money -- to these grants unbelievable improvements can be made to our whole major road network, which would be impossible otherwise. This also has the effect of keeping employment levels up and the Council officials of the Highways Division well happy -- no threat of redundancy there these days!

Rita, the red lines on Scout Road -- a brilliant safety feature (don't knock it) -- saves lives. The block paving lays-by on St. Helens Road -- yes an extravagance, but the whole scheme was paid for mainly out of European monies, not our money Rita -- so again don't knock it.

"White line mania" on Chorley New Road-- safety again Rita -- it may save your life or a relative/friend . Don't ever knock it, or the Council or the Government (whichever Party) if they are trying to do you a favour.

The downside to all of this is that while some "funded" schemes seemingly appear to be swallowing up vast sums, the minor roads/footpaths don't qualify for this money and have to rely on what we, as Community Charge payers, contribute -- only so much to go round then -- unless Rita you would prefer to pay more, but I think not. Yes it does seem incredible, I know, but that is the longstanding anomaly of Local Government Finance. It needs urgently amending so that some commonsense prevails and leads to a better understanding of what our Councillors are attempting to achieve -- on the one hand having to obey the commands of Whitehall (they pay about 75 per cent of the cost of all major road schemes) and on the other hand trying not to appear to the Ritas of this world like complete and utter lunatic aliens. Not an easy juggling act Rita -- you should try it some time before knocking it.

Tony Boddy

(Ex-Local Government)

name and address supplied