COUNCILLORS are to write to the Department of Transport in a bid to put the brakes on motorists speeding through Holcombe Village.

The move follows a lengthy campaign by The Holcombe Society to have traffic-calming measures installed in the picturesque village to slow down fast drivers, who put pedestrians and other motorists at risk.

Last week, members of the society handed a petition to Bury North MP David Chaytor demanding action be taken to improve safety for residents and many tourists who visit the area.

A recent traffic survey revealed that there was a problem with vehicles exceeding the speed limit of 30mph, a fact which Chief Inspector Ian Lomax, of the traffic network section, said was "acknowledged by both Bury Council and ourselves". But because there have been no fatal accidents, the area does not qualify for cameras or traffic-calming measures.

At this week's meeting of Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor Area Board, Coun David Higgin suggested writing to the Government asking for speed cameras to be installed in the village. He described the criteria for speed cameras as 'nonsense'.

"Surely people asking for speed cameras should be given high priority and consideration," he said.

Dr Falmai Binns, of The Holcombe Society, said: "Permanent speed cameras could help, although we would like a hard engineering solution to the problem also explored, such as narrowing the road, so traffic on one side would have to give way to oncoming motorists."

She added: "We in the village feel we are sometimes forgotten by the council because we are a rural community, but we too deserve the same consideration as others areas of the borough. But we are now beginning to make progress."

Emma Reynolds, communications manager for Drivesafe, a partnership organisation responsible for installing cameras, said although there was criteria governing the use of speed cameras, residents' calls for them were also considered.