REMEMBER the Star's 'Dump The Humps' headline of last year... well now a council squad is testing the feeling of townsfolk over speed calming devices.

They give many motorists the hump, but are seen by other campaigners as devices that can help save lives. Now, the effectiveness of road humps and other speed calming measures on the borough's roads is to be reviewed by a St Helens Council committee.

Members of the public and local organisations are being given the chance to air their views for the study, which is being undertaken by councillors sitting on the local authority's Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

The panel will examine the impact of calming measures such as road humps, chicanes, and speed cushions, which have vastly increased on St Helens roads in recent years.

Correspondents to the Star have previously given their views on the issue, with some seeing humps as unnecessary devices which encourage bad driving and others regarding them as vital tactics to cut speed in communities troubled by speeding motorists.

Concerns over how the measures affect the speed of emergency services getting to the scene of accidents has also been expressed in other areas of the country.

The panel, whose task is to review and scrutinise the local authority's performance and decisions taken by the Council's Executive, will compare traffic calming measures with best practice in other parts of the country. It will also review how the location of traffic calming fits in with the council's approach to road safety.

Councillor Teresa Sims, who chairs the panel, said: "Traffic calming measures help to increase road safety and reduce the numbers of people in St Helens who are killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents and evidence so far suggests this is working.

"The panel is keen to hear from as many people as possible and listen to their views."

l Send your views to the St Helens Star and your official responses to Catherine Fletcher at the Policy Unit, town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens, WA10 1HP or email Catherine fletcher@StHelens.gov.uk by October 15.