I WRITE in response to Mayor Keith Mennell's views expressed in the May 21, Gazette & Herald.

I welcome the Highways Department's decision to install traffic-calming measures in Langton Road. Long-awaited attention has now been given to the increasing problem of excess speeding of vehicles upon this stretch of road, also used by numerous pupils going to the local school and cyclists taking to the footpath for safety. As a motorist, I find these 'calming' measures frustrating. However, I accept the reasoning behind such decisions, which are in the best interests of pedestrians and motorist alike.

In the event of potential injury compensation due to a road accident, the litigation costs could far exceed the sum of £45,000; the trauma suffered by accident victims and their families is a more serious matter. Mr Mennell should be more cautious before he attaches monetary values to high-risk issues concerning the safety and welfare of the public.

Updated: 15:01 Wednesday, June 04, 2003