I am writing to Engineering Design Services as I understand they are involved in road safety

I would like to know who is responsible for the decision to install a ‘traffic calming chicane’ on the B4357 leading to the Penybont Road. Whitton, Powys, near the Community Hall (just up from the old closed school).

I understand that “traffic calming is a proven technique to achieve both these aims through its effect in slowing traffic and encouraging traffic to use more appropriate route.”

However, I dispute that this has been appropriately tackled and constructed in this case at Whitton.

I live in the village and I fully appreciate that traffic travels too fast and does not always observe the 30mph de-restriction signs.

Such an installation in its present format is more likely to encourage the boy-racers to see how they handle it.

The work undertaken here does not appear to have been agreed after any consultation with regard to the measures which have been taken.

There is no knowledge of any recent monitoring or traffic counting taking place and surely local residents should have been contacted, as several neighbours are concerned about what has been installed.

Instead of preventing accidents, it is more than likely it will cause one (or several).

The use of bollards and kerbs is excessive and the danger this presents is a great worry.

The spacing is barely adequate, for even a medium sized car but when large vehicles, regularly seen pulling trailers with large loads and often containing animals, it will be become a nightmare. Market days in Knighton will prove this.

Despite careful driving, there is always the possibility that it will not last long in its present configuration.

However, should any driver have cause to hit the structure - the damage would not only be severe but could cause a car to overturn and seriously injury someone.

There should be at least some professional monitoring done of the effectiveness of the abomination which has been installed and consideration needs to be given to the removal of the chicane.

Name and address supplied