I READ with great interest the front page of the Northwood and Rickmansworth edition (February 3) concerning the traffic problem that residents of Woodside Road, Northwood, have with Hillingdon Council.

I know the fight they will have on their hands because it has taken me over two years to make Hillingdon Council see common sense.

I've been fighting the council to lower the speed of traffic on Rickmansworth Road, which runs past Mount Vernon Hospital and Holy Trinity Church of England School.

After many accidents and even death, the road speed at last has been lowered to 30mph, but my main question still applies: Why was it ever 40mph and why did it take so long to lower the speed?

Over the years I kept being told that it was in the hands of the police, and when I spoke to the police they said it was Hillingdon Council that had the authority to change the regulations.

I do hope that the residents of Woodside Road do not have to go through all that I have, and that Hillingdon Council can and will act a little faster before someone else is killed.

VALERIE JACKSON-HARRIS Rickmansworth Road

Northwood