A FORMER chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council has urged residents not to oppose traffic calming in his village.

Ken Ross, of Fennels Park Road, Flackwell Heath, wrote to Midweek criticising rumours saying that the proposal for traffic calming would give rise to road problems.

He said: "It appears to me that these remarks have been put about on the basis of what is a lack of knowledge of the scheme. Those making the suggestions should wait until they see exactly what is to be put in place."

The traffic calming measures are proposed to stop commuters using the village as a rat-run.

Major calming is suggested for both ends of the village, mainly Heath End Road and the straight easterly end of Straight Bit. Only small changes to the middle of the village will occur near the Recreation Ground, Straight Bit, and near Sheepridge Lane, according to Mr Ross.

He said: "How such works could cause rat running in the other roads talked about by the rumour-mongers is difficult to see.

"If this planned calming is delayed because of ill-informed comment, it is likely that the village will lose it, with the money going into other parts of the county road network."

Mr Ross said the "rumour-mongers" not the council will be to blame if the scheme fails to go ahead: "If the delay takes place, the people of the village should understand why and who is responsible."