PEOPLE of South Craven have become hardened to frequent traffic problems resulting from temporary restrictions, particularly in and around the highways of the area.

Last Thursday (July 25) was a case in point. Traffic was mired in queuing, partly as a result of temporary traffic controls at the junction of Station Road and Colne Road in Cross Hills in which the lights had failed on red, with no personnel in attendance from the utility company concerned. This problem was added to by another set of temporary traffic lights at Eastburn, on the B6265, which appeared to be poorly sequenced, causing unnecessary hold ups on the highway.

I understand that licences have to be issued to utility companies, developers and local authorities before groundworks are started but there seems to be no system to co-ordinate permissions to avoid potential clashes with other schemes and events.

Strict control of the implementation of groundworks and construction exists in other European countries I believe.

Patrick Hargreaves, Glusburn