THE rejection by residents of the proposed Avonwood School because of traffic fears and the debate over 20mph zones in Poole both illustrate that we are not looking at the problem of traffic in a constructive way.

If there is, as residents claim, too much traffic already on Harewood Avenue then we should be looking at ways to reduce it – not deprive children of education because of it.

The arterial routes served by this road are adequately catered for with the Wessex Way and Castle Lane East. Close Harewood Avenue to through traffic and the problem goes away.

Local residents will see an increase in property values as they would no longer live on a through road.

The same approach would solve the traffic problems for Epiphany and Muscliffe Primary if applied to Shillingstone Way.

20mph limits do not discourage arterial traffic whether through the use of speed humps or enforcement.

One only has to look at Moordown St John’s on Victoria Park Road; a 20mph zone with speed bumps and it still needs a crossing guard.

The only way forward is to make arterial traffic use arterial roads through limiting permeability.

Traffic speed and volume will decrease naturally.

Why do we continue to use methods that do not work?

MIKE CHALKLEY, Cowper Road, Bournemouth