I WRITE further to your recent article concerning those roundabout advertisements.

I have just had to endure the nightly "fourteen hour" journey home along Deane Road etc, which somewhat delayed my urge of putting pen to paper.

I wish to take issue with Councillor Howarth. Surely advice or consent would have been sought from the highways department regarding the installation of the signs, prior to any overall council opinion being given. Or am I being cynical in presuming that this is the relevant complainers exiting the political roundabout at the junction of hindsight and convenience?

Secondly, I would be grateful if councillors could indicate the distraction likely to be caused by such signs, bearing in mind the huge advertisement billboards which overlook the same roundabout. The council no doubt welcome the additional signage, as this will allow for more roadside furniture behind which more speed cameras can hide.

Lastly, it is quite apparent that the green fingered, tree-hugging, anti-car driving councillors do not themselves drive, as they would otherwise no doubt be aware that a distraction could not possibly be caused by these signs, based on the maximum speed of 10mph governed by the town's main roads, due to the endless gridlock suffered by motorists.

No doubt the Town Hall, which is rapidly narrowing all the town's arteries to single roads, forcing traffic onto B roads and back streets, will now insert a dozen or so roundabouts along Deane Road / Wigan Road to generate additional income for themselves.

Ah well, at least it will be something to distract drivers from the boredom of the crawl home!

Mark Pickering

Beaumont Chase, Bolton

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