IT'S all very well for Ilkley Civic Society to suggest its own improvements to the Manor Park bends section of the A65 with a massive saving to the taxpayer of around £1.8 million.

But the residents don't seem to agree and they desperately want a scheme which will put an end to the daily traffic nightmares they face.

The present traffic calming measures seem to work with drivers who don't know the area very well.

Coming across road markings and signs reminiscent of Blackpool illuminations makes them slow down immediately, then they are through the bends before they have begun to wonder what all the fuss was about.

Local drivers, of course, know the section of road well and continue driving at high speeds into and out of Ilkley.

Everyone agrees that something more should be done, but straightening the road would seem to make it a lot easier for out of town traffic to speed up as well.

However, if the civic society recommendations were implemented, would the money saved be ploughed into improvements in public transport?

But since bus and train services were privatised no improvements have been particularly noticed, apart from to the luxurious lives of fat cat directors who buy companies, run them at a profit for a few years and then sell them off for millions.

Extra money ploughed into public transport needs to be strictly regulated to make sure it doesn't end up in the off-shore accounts of greedy company directors.

But in a de-regulated industry this is more difficult than it seems at first glance.

Perhaps it is better after all that the more expensive scheme for straightening the bends is carried out?

At least we know that the residents of Manor Park will benefit. Only time will let us judge the road safety effect.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.