HEAD-ON smashes could result from moves to slow down motorists on what was once one of the borough's most dangerous roads, claims a councillor.

Cllr John Lea fears that boy racers and joy riders could cause a tragedy following traffic calming alterations to Astley Street and Princes Avenue the busy link road between Tyldesley and Astley.

Cllr Lea has generally welcomed the measures, but says he fears a bad accident is waiting to happen at the controversial 'pinch points' which force one lane of traffic to give way to the other.

He told the Journal : "It gives me concern that there could be a nasty, head-on collision if joy riders try to race through the narrowing points when they should give way.

"It also concerns me about the effect on traffic congestion at peak periods."

But colleague and Tyldesley East Cllr Steve Hellier believes improved safety statistics since calming measures were introduced make any user inconvenience justifiable.

He said: "The four narrowings in the carriageway -- or 'pinch-points' -- will mean that vehicles may need to give way twice in each direction between Astley and Tyldesley.

"They have been installed in order to achieve a more even distribution of physical speed restraint measures throughout the whole length of the scheme. As this is a direct response to residents' concerns that traffic was still travelling too fast, particularly at the southern end of the scheme, I cannot understand why some people appear to be complaining now."

He said the calming alterations were clearly displayed, along with other proposed improvements to the scheme designed in response to people's concerns, at a public exhibition which was held to enable residents to engage in constructive dialogue with traffic engineers.

All households along the scheme received letters inviting them to the exhibition, which was held last March attracting 60 people and 38 letters.

"I believe people need to bear in mind that in the 36 months just prior to the scheme being implemented in its original form, police records show that there were 35 personal injury road accidents on this stretch of highway.

"The total for the 32 months since the scheme was completed in Spring 1998 is 15 -- in other words, the injury road accident rate has been halved."

Cllr Alan Stephenson said he had received a number of complaints about the new scheme from people within his Tyldesley East ward: "I think traffic congestion should be eased when the mini roundabout is installed at the Princes Avenue/Manchester Road junction and that might also reduce speeding."