TRAFFIC CALMING

Residents of Quarndon have been campaigning for traffic-calming measures along Burley Lane for some years. They say it has become a speed trap for motorists who are cutting through the village to avoid a busy stretch of the A6. Police are monitoring the area and have warned motorists that mobile patrols with laser guns will be out in force. If motorists are caught speeding they will face a fine or be disqualified from driving. Inspector Louis Martin, of the road policing unit, confirmed there had been several incidents where cars had lost control on that particular stretch of road. He said, "The problem seems to be getting worse. I think people seem to be using it as a short cut to beat the traffic. It's dangerous and we will be enforcing the speed limit."

Council spokeswoman Liz Tomes said, "We couldn't put any kind of speed humps on the road because there are a lot of severe corners and it's on a steep gradient. In this situation, speed humps would cause more danger. We'll have a look at the site and make sure there's nothing wrong with the road itself." Resident Mrs Shorrock said Burley Lane was frequently used as a rat run to get from the A6 to the A38. She said, "It needs something to stop people using it as a cut-through. There have been lots of incidents such as people coming out of their drives and cars hitting them. It's really difficult to get out of your drive, especially in rush hour."

This is a familiar scenario where residents object to the road where they live being used by traffic. Surely ALL roads are used as a means to get from A to B and as with other roads of this kind, are classed as a public highway which motorists have paid for the privilege of using. See also: Rat Run