I am writing to add to the correspondence protesting against the installation of traffic signals at the Bar Lane /Belmont Road junction.

There have been two consultation meetings concerning an improved traffic management scheme for the Belmont Road area attended by engineers from highway management, local councillors and the general public.

It was clear at these meetings from the onset the engineers had made up their minds that there was one solution and one solution only, i.e: the installation of traffic signals.

However the consultation meeting disagreed with this approach and my understanding of the outcome of the meeting chaired by Councillor John Walsh was that the traffic management problem would be approached in two phases.

The phase being the introduction of traffic measures and a crossing for children attending High Lawn School from the Oldham's estate side of Belmont Road.

If these measures did not significantly improve the situation then the introduction of traffic signals at the Bar Lane /Belmont junction would be evaluated. We now learn that the highways engineers propose to ignore the outcome of the consultation meeting and immediately install the traffic signals.

Residents contacting the highways engineers office to enquire about the proposal were advised by the Bolton metro engineer that the installation of traffic signals at the Bar lane/Belmont Road junction was a done deal and the installation contract had already been awarded to the contractor.

This statement was made in spite of the fact that the proposal only goes before the council on March 2 and begs the question who is running Bolton's affairs, elected representatives or council employees?

Name and address supplied