From time to time residents approach me with requests or suggestions for traffic calming measures in their streets, such as road bumps or chicanes. I’m afraid some of the most reasonable of people can turn into thoughtless liabilities when they get behind the wheel of a car.

And I am flabbergasted by the complacent attitude of some, including Council officers. I took up the case of one, quite narrow, residential street, where there were complaints of speeding. The officers did a survey and found an average speed of 34 mph - and then pronounced that that meant that there was no problem! If that was the average speed, just imagine what some of the higher speeds were. I sometimes get the impression someone has to be maimed or killed before something will be done. It is not the right approach to these problems in my view.

So I want to find out the views of as many residents as possible about where there are traffic problems, so that I can get an overall picture of the needs of the Ward. I will then be able to put together a considered report for the Council, and start lobbying it to get something done.