LANGLEY Drive, Overton Drive and Redbridge Lane West have suffered enough from increasing numbers of rat-running dangerous drivers year after year, with no respite.

How can Redbridge Council deem that the Overton Drive closure is a failure after only two weeks, with Cambridge Park Road undergoing major roadworks which would inevitably cause traffic problems?

This in turn has had a huge impact on the reckless drivers who in their wilful impatience flout the law by driving through the no-entry at the closure. Surely, it would have made sense to delay the closure until these works were completed.

In the final analysis, what is at stake here? Hopefully, when the works are completed a slightly longer journey time, just five or ten minutes at most. Do not forget that these are C class roads, not A class roads, where the traffic should be.

If this scheme is condemned as a failure what then is a success? Reducing the 5,000 vehicles a day endured along Langley Drive, Redbridge Lane West and Overton Drive, cleaner air, less pollution, less noise and increased protection for the pupils of Wanstead High School, that is success. If this scheme is removed and a fatality occurs the blame will be laid squarely upon the councillors for not having the courage to stand by their decision. The council has acknowledged a long-standing problem that has now been solved.

Although this is a hot political issue, the decision to end the closure, despite its teething difficulties, must be withheld, even though it is not popular with some of its electorate. The minority must have a voice. The majority cannot jeopardise the overwhelming need for health, safety, less pollution and quality of life and long-term benefits for all its residents and neighbours.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

May 29, 2003 13:00