SPEAKING as a driver, cyclist and pedestrian, I welcome any measures that can prevent or reduce accidents, save lives and generally improve road safety.

Every accident has a cost to the community and it is the tax payer who picks up the tab.

All traffic calming measures have to meet a set of criteria and should be able to save twice the cost of an accident in the proposed location.

All schemes are introduced at the request of and with the support of local residents - and more requests are being received by the council year on year. So, far from being a waste of money, these schemes are cost effective and very successful in making our communities a safer place to be.

I would also point out that pedestrians and cyclists are council tax payers too. The amount spent on facilities for cyclists compared to the overall highways budget is tiny.

Trafford has the highest number of cyclists in Greater Manchester and if we are serious about encouraging more people to see it as a real alternative form of transport then we must give it a much higher priority than it has had in the past.

Therefore, I fully support all the schemes being improved - green paint and all.

Cllr Steve Adshead, Trafford MBC.

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