IT has never been my habit to respond to direct letters in the press obviously aimed at provoking such a response, such as about Flackwell Heath traffic management.

It is not my intention to change this habit, however I would like to say, on a general basis, that some people do not realise how road schemes come about and this is of course understandable.

In my earlier letter I tried to highlight the problem of any delay based on reassessment of road calming, or any scheme in Flackwell Heath. It is not simply a case of someone saying "Oh, let's add a bit more here and a bit more there", would that it were. Nor is it always money. It is just that full analysis has to be made, plans drawn up, costings and so on and so on.

Of course we need further calming for Chapman Lane and Blind Lane and/or more cameras, so people should write to David Shakespeare, the new county councillor for Flackwell Heath. Just let's get the current scheme in and then continue pressure for other roads which I have been doing for ten years or more. The crossing in Straight Bit took 15 years.

Things just do not happen overnight. I do hope, however, if more roads money is available then this time delay can be reduced dramatically. Just keep the pressure up.

In closing just four points. Firstly, the residents of Straight Bit and Heath End Road want calming.

Secondly, one small calming work by the Rec is the only one drivers coming up Chapman Lane will encounter. Thirdly, I am fully aware of flows and volume on all the village's roads, at all times of the day.

Fourthly, I have heard of one crazy proposal being suggested to make Chapman Lane a cul-de-sac with the traffic, including buses, directed through The Orchard. This must be one of the most ill-thought out proposals I have ever heard.

Having lived in Flackwell Heath since 1967 I realise some people see me as a newcomer. But in all those years as traffic has increased, once I was voted on to the council I started to campaign for calming. Let's hope this scheme goes ahead and we very quickly have more calming in other parts of the village.

Ken Ross

(Ex-county council

chairman)

Fennels Farm Road

Flackwell Heath