AN offer by a Fenland councillor to pay for a trial safety barrier along the 16ft Drain near March made from tyres, has been rejected by Cambridgeshire County Council. Councillor Peter Skoulding revealed he had made the offer 14 years ago but it had never

AN offer by a Fenland councillor to pay for a trial safety barrier along the 16ft Drain near March made from tyres, has been rejected by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillor Peter Skoulding revealed he had made the offer 14 years ago but it had never been properly discussed.

However this week Councillor Matt Bradney, Cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said "this is a scheme which has been looked at and not only is this not the best solution but would be even harder to work."

He said he couldn't talk about what happened 14 years ago when the idea was mooted but said it would be extremely difficult to anchor the tyres and build them up to a significant height and depth on steep sloping banks with little or no verges.

"There is also the added problem of the tyres rebounding vehicles back into traffic," he said.

"We have consulted with the public and local councillors since 1994 and over this time have installed additional warning signs, a reduced speed limit, road markings, marker posts and various other measures, which have had positive effects.

"The best solution we think is average speed cameras which we are putting in along the Forty Foot Bank Road combined with driver education urging motorists to take responsibility and slow down.