AN EX-POLICEMAN is demanding his former bosses push for a halt to further Traffic-calming measures in Hyndburn.

Adrian Shurmer has written to the police calling for the measures to be put on hold in the borough and county until a public inquiry has been held.

The former police driving instructor believes the borough's schemes cause more problems than they prevent.

And he has accused the police of a 'passive tolerance' towards towards Hyndburn Council's 'knee jerk' measures to cut speed.

Former police driving instructor Mr Shurmer, of Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood, said: "I am just trying to bring to everyone's attention a potentially serious situation, where the law is being brought into disrepute because the real problem - dealing effectively with reckless and speeding drivers - is not being addressed.

"I want a stop to all council traffic-calming measures in Lancashire until a full inquiry or judicial review takes place."

He claimed the measures went against police training and said driver education was needed to prevent accidents, rather than slowing cars down with obstacles. Fellow campaigner Philip Congdon, has also written to the police officers calling for answers about traffic-calming. However, he claims several of his letters have been ignored and said he was not satisfied with the police response to his queries during a visit by a senior officer to his home.

Mr Congdon, of Hindle Fold Lane, Great Harwood, has now written to Chief Constable Pauline Clare to complain about not getting replies to his letters.

Divisional Commander Superintendent Eddie Walsh, said: "Traffic-calming has its place in road safety. However, not everyone is in favour of such measures."

He added that the police are consulted about traffic-calming measure, but it was not ultimately their decision to give them the go-ahead.

Superintendent Wendy Walker, operations manager for the Eastern Division, said she had been to visit Mr Congdon's house to answer his questions.

She added: "We are fully aware of their queries and are doing our best to answer their questions."

A Hyndburn Council spokesman said: "In 1987, the previous government set an objective to reduce road traffic casualties by a third by the year 2000. One way of achieving this reduction was by implementing traffic-calming and Hyndburn traffic-calming policy was implemented as a result of this."

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