NEW Traffic calming measures are in place in Colne after an 18-month campaign against speeding motorists.

County Coun Tim Ormrod has been among those calling for safety measures to be put in place at the end of the M65 at the approach to the Colne roundabout, which leads to the busy Vivary Way.

He pressed for the measures after hearing numerous stories about the roundabout becoming known as a spot for dangerous driving and shunt-type accidents.

His efforts paid off this week when rumble strips, or deceleration bars, were put across the road to help slow down the traffic.

He said: "This is a bad point for accidents because the traffic has been on the motorway for quite a while and they climb up the hill from Reedyford and within a short distance they are at the end of the motorway.

"The deceleration bars cause drivers to think they are driving faster than they are so they make them brake sooner.

"I am very pleased to see they are in place and hopefully there will now be fewer accidents at this spot."

Sixty-year-old resident Pat Pickup, who lives in Peel Gardens off Vivary Way, welcomed the news and said it had been needed for a long time.

She said: "I think it is not before time and I am really pleased that it has been done.

"It is terrible round there and they just come hurtling off the motorway and think they will be able to just go straight round the roundabout without stopping to see if there's something coming round towards Vivary Way.

"It's a good thing if it slows them down. I've heard about a few accidents there and I think some of them have even hit the signposts."

Sergeant Russell Gregory, of Colne Traffic Police, confirmed there had been incidents of lorrys and cars speeding across the roundabout, as well as bad overtaking maneouvres and shunt accidents at the end of the motorway.

He said: "We support what Coun Ormrod has done by having the rumble strips put in place and the evidence tends to suggest that they do have a positive effect.

"They look evenly spaced to motorists but the gaps between them are actually getting smaller towards the end so if you are driving along at 40mph as you get nearer the roundabout you will think you are doing about 60mph and brake. It's all psychological."

Coun Ormrod was also successful in his bid to have a new surface, which provides a better grip for tyres, put in place at the approach to the pedestrian crossing in Phillips Lane, Colne.

The crossing is regularly used by school children and Coun Ormrod has often asked for better safety measures for them.