I NOTE the ongoing debate and concern about the growing number of traffic calming measures around Swindon and I hesitate to add to the issue. However the letter from Mrs Bowles on Thursday May 15 prompts me to add my bit.

I live near the humps which have appeared in Freshbrook Way there are ten in a very short stretch of road. On speaking with Swindon Borough Council I am told they cover 250 metres and are 75mm high and they are sharply angled. I was also told that for a 20mph limit there have to calming measures my question is do the measures have to be so drastic?

I note Mrs Bowles reference to the pain felt by some people when going over the bumps I raised this very point with the borough council last month and was told no-one had raised this previously.

This can be a problem for anyone with arthritis, disc problems, etc and so younger people can be affected as well as the older people mentioned by Mrs Bowles. Whatever age this should be a consideration when planning these measures.

Apart from the potential physical discomfort or pain, I suggest that the humps tax the patience of some drivers to the extent of increasing stress and perhaps having an adverse effect on their driving, at least as they accelerate away from them.

I agree that 20mph is appropriate in many of our residential areas and would not question the need to take steps to reduce the likelihood and number of accidents, but the quantity and height of the humps in Freshbrook seems to me like a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut'.

A Hurcomb

Senior Manager Finance & Administration

Age Concern Swindon

Freshbrook

Swindon

NB: I write this as an individual not as a representative of Age Concern Swindon. These are my personal views.