IREAD with incredulity the comments of Adrian Shurmer (Letters, April 29) and the facts and figures he quoted on the same day as you reported the tragedy of little Bradley Turner who was knocked down and killed by a car.

I recall Mr Shurmer's opinions on proposals to introduce speed bumps along our road and others and the more recent negative comments of similar-minded persons about the introduction of 20 mph zones in residential areas.

My youngest lad, aged four, recently ran out in front of a car outside our house to see his young pal -- yes, he was stupid and, yes, I was stupid and should have my eyes on him 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Yes, he should have been playing in our 'garden' (as I recall a reply to my letter several days ago about introducing speed bumps -- even though we do not have a garden).

And, yes, to all the criticism and drivel that comes along with admitting such a fact. Sorry to have 'inconvenienced' the motorist who sternly advised me to control my child more.

But thank you very much from a concerned parent to the 'bigoted and unintellectual' politicians and councillors and those 'police slaves,' as Mr Shurmer calls them, who have had the common sense to introduce such traffic calming measures on Station Road in Rishton.

What if the driver had been legally doing 30 mph (maybe 33 mph to allow for speedometer error) along Station Road and there had not been any traffic calming measures in place? It beggars belief that such a small inconvenience is thought to be so important by people like Mr Shurmer.

Reducing speed won't stop accidents happening, but it could reduce the number and help prevent tragedies like little Bradley's. Please implement more 20 mph zones in residential areas make them safer environments and ignore Mr Shurmer's ranting.

MICHAEL HOLDEN, Station Road, Rishton.