Sir, I hope the consultants visit the appropriate locations at the appropriate times since the effect can vary, from quiet Sunday mornings to high-density traffic on weekdays.

Part of the problem is the timing of traffic light changes and the number of lights, some of which conflict with those just around the corner, giving a `green' to traffic which is then unable to move because of other traffic held up by lights in the adjoining road.

There is one advantage of the scheme, which is traffic from Shap or Sedbergh Road wishing to get onto Windermere Road, no longer has to travel along Stricklandgate, thereby relieving what was previously a greatly congested main road through the town.

The downside is that more congestion has been created on other roads.

What is needed is more human control of the situation.

Since traffic lights cannot see, think or reason, nor make decisions based on varying densities at different times and places, perhaps one answer would be to spend money employing traffic control police, with walkie-talkies, to be on shift duties at all the crucial points where control is necessary.

The men or women so employed, and being able to see and assess the situations minute-by-minute, could better manage the flow than the present traffic light system.

John K.

Rogers, Burneside