ON November 2, a so-called friendly meeting was arranged between Hyndburn Council transportation committee - chaired by Councillor Douglas Deakin and the Lancashire County Council transportation committee (Hyndburn's highway authority), chaired by County Councillor Richard Toon.

The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the ground for official talks to take place about a 'new' road and traffic policy in the Hyndburn area, now that the Conservatives are, on paper, the council's controlling group.

What transpired during that meeting exposed what an uphill task it is going to be in trying to change the previous disastrous traffic-calming policy brought in by the previous loony left wing Labour group on the Lancashire County Council and who are still in full control of this area's roads.

Coun Richard Toon did little other than pour scorn and mock anyone who dared to make a relevant point about previous LCC traffic-calming policy.

I had also raised a point regarding the importance of dealing with the driver problem rather than just placing hazards in front of drivers who were hitting hazards - this being coupled with the fact that the police should be required to answer certain questions on road safety which, on four previous occasions, they had refused to answer.

All that Coun Toon could say to this was: "What do you want? Do you want to mark them five out of 10?"

There should be no room for such ignorance and ridicule emanating from people in public office and I wish to bring to the attention of the public that I, for one, am prepared, no matter what the consequences, to stand up and represent the people who voted for me to try and do something about the dreadful state of Hyndburn's roads.

I just hope that the Conservative controlling group on Hyndburn Council, which recently had me removed as the 'chair' of the transport management review board - for no good reason, other than because I withdrew my support because of their weak party leader - are also up to the formidable task in tackling such dreadful bigotry, still very much alive and kicking within the autocratic and often unaccountable LCC.

ADRIAN SHURMER, independent councillor, Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.