JOHN Brooks letter of May 19 referred to traffic gridlock caused by the new traffic lights at Hale Road, Hale Barns.

The result of this is a rat run through residential parts of Hale Barns as drivers understandably seek to avoid the Hale Road bottleneck.

More homes in the area are affected by noise and pollution (and too many speeding cars) and parents are concerned about the risk to young cyclists.

None of this is a surprise as the professional firm of traffic flow experts hired and funded by the Hale Barns residents community group at the precinct development planning stage predicted a traffic problem and an impact on the Hale Barns side roads.

There is some possible good news for those residential areas affected by increased traffic flow. The Hale Barns councillors were recently asked about the issue of rat running and have confirmed the Trafford Highways department has programmed to investigate traffic calming measures.

Let us hope this is sooner rather than later and before there are any casualties resulting from drivers rushing to circumvent the Hale Road bottleneck.

Tony Woolf, former chairman of Hale Barns Residents Response