ONCE again it seems our road traffic planners have decided to use their total lack of understanding when moving the pedestrian refuge islands on Newbrook Road.

I travel this road every day, sometimes by large goods vehicle and it seems that in moving these islands over towards the edge of the available lane for Leigh bound traffic, the planners have forgot to include space for cyclists.

This road carries a 40mph speed limit (if you can see any signs reminding you before the camera zaps you) and sooner or later a large goods vehicle is going to have to brake very heavily and possibly lose a load because there is not enough room to safely pass someone on a cycle when confronted with such a tight constriction in the roadway.

Also near the junction with Four Lane Ends where the carriageway is now three lanes there is no spare road width to allow two oncoming large goods vehicles (when the bus lane is operational) to pass safely if there is a cyclist using the road also.

Please remember that cyclists are not easy to see at night with no high visibility clothing or lights and I would have thought giving priority to pedal power over buses would be the safest option.

To cap it all I came home tonight to find that the Bolton bound right hand lane at Four Lane Ends is now marked as a "right turn only" lane, further increasing the length of queue's and increasing pollution.

I for one will continue to use this lane to continue along St Helens Road as I was allowed to before the lane markings were changed as there is no unsafe reason not to.

Gareth Grundy

Westfield Road

Bolton