I WRITE in support of RW Gardiner s letter published in the Ely Standard of October 19 entitled Ely Needs A Traffic Plan For The Future . The present closure of Broad Street and Victoria Street has been most enlightening and bliss to us residents. No lon

I WRITE in support of RW Gardiner's letter published in the Ely Standard of October 19 entitled 'Ely Needs A Traffic Plan For The Future'. The present closure of Broad Street and Victoria Street has been most enlightening and bliss to us residents.

No longer are our houses shaken by 40-tonne lorries thundering down Broad Street, particularly at night and early morning. With no weight limit or speed limit signs in Broad Street, cars, lorries and HGV's trundle past with little concern to residents.

Many properties are of historic value and it is hard to believe that it is a designated Conservation Area.

The sheer volume of traffic causes pollution and the illegally parked cars are a danger to pedestrians.

Drivers try to avoid the queues by using Victoria Street as a cut through to Back Hill, mounting the pavement at the top to avoid cars coming the opposite way.

I have raised the issue with Cambridgeshire County Council about placing bollards here, to be told it would create a danger to prams and pushchairs, especially at night.

These sewer works have demonstrated to residents that HGV's do not have to use Broad Street, there are alternatives.

If other residents have been affected elsewhere in the city, perhaps this should be raised, which will further enforce the need to address a proper traffic plan.

Our local council has done much to make the Broad Street area more attractive for tourists and residents, with Jubilee Gardens and the pleasant walk through from Cherry Hill to the cathedral. I often hear tourists complaining about our heavy traffic. It would be a pity if Ely became known as 'Lorry City' with an associated adverse effect on the local economy.

The growth of housing developments means Broad Street is now choked with many additional car journeys each day. It simply cannot support everything, on-street parking, a large volume of car traffic and HGV's as well as frequent double decker buses.

If nothing is done there will be nothing left to conserve and Ely will begin to choke from its own uncontrolled traffic policy. We can make a start by enforcing both a weight and speed limit in Broad Street.

PAUL GRIFFITHS

Broad Street

Ely