It's time to take a new route on the road works in this area

In defence of the concurrent works on St Peter's Way and the M61, Mr Layer claims that it is the view of many experts that total disruption is less when nearby works are carried out simultaneously rather than consecutively. Although he does not name the experts, it is clear that they do not commute daily to and from the south of Bolton and the M60. I am sure that most drivers would prefer to have one route fully open at a time, with traffic flowing freely, albeit at greater volumes and possibly reduced speed and with the other route restricted, over a longer period, rather than have total disruption on the only two major routes with stop/start/stationary traffic over a shorter period.

Mr Layer states that, in response to demands for action, Bolton Council has secured funds to repair Bolton's roads. May we be permitted to know what has happened to the part of the Council Tax which goes to the Highways Department for this purpose, or has the Council used it for other purposes? The fact is that the present disgraceful state of our roads is the result of years of neglect by the Labour Council who have conveniently chosen to blame the Government.

As far as the M61 is concerned, Mr Layer claims that the Council has no control over the timing of works by the Department of Transport. This does not, however, prevent them from putting forward for consideration suggestions to reduce the problem. It is, of course, easier to sit back and blame someone else.

The excuse about the absence of work on Victoria Road over the Christmas period is simply not acceptable. It is not a question of the contractor not being able to work, but the fact that the building trade closes down for two weeks to enjoy the holiday, while other service industry workers have to be content with the statutory days holidays. This two-week period is one of the quietest on the roads with a reduced number of commuters and the schools closed, so that considerable progress could have been made.

Incidentally, half the road has now been closed off for two days, but there is hardly any activity taking place. With proper planning, the whole team should have been ready to move on site and start work as soon as the road was closed.

While the work on Victoria Road is essential, it does not provide a solution to the problems on this stretch of the A58 ring road (Victoria Road and Stapleton Avenue) which are unsuitable for the increasing volume of traffic. The sensible solution would be to take Beaumont Road straight ahead at Chorley New Road, across the fields behind the houses on Victoria Road and Stapleton Avenue, across Old Kiln Lane and along the line of Boot Lane to rejoin the present A58 near Chorley Old Road. This would eliminate the dangerous junctions of the A58 with the double lights at Chorley New Road, with Old Kiln Lane, and the dangerous bend at the junction of Victoria Road and Stapleton Avenue. There have been numerous serious accidents at all these points.

It would also eliminate the problems on Markland Hill Lane and Whitecroft Road, which has become a short cut rat-run between the ring road and Chorley Old Road. If this rat-run had been on a Council estate, something would have been done about it a long time ago. I doubt whether the Council has submitted this or any other proposal for consideration and inclusion in the Government road building programme, even if it has to be put on hold until such time as funds are available.

Despite Mr Layer's explanation about time scales, it does seem that disruption could be reduced if there was better planning, liaison and co-ordination between the various bodies.

(name and address supplied)