I REFER to recent letters (Echo, February 6) in response to my previous letter (January 31) about motorists using residential roads as a short cut.

My apologies to Suzanne Bishop if my response to her letter regarding the refuse collection has upset her in any way.

I stand by what I wrote. Like her the waste collectors have every right to do their work unhindered and in safety, be it in an office a factory or at the rear of a refuse lorry up a narrow street.

Ian Brooke says I stated that I had counted 67 cars and vans using Everest Road in one morning - this was actually from 8am to 9am.

I agree with him it is a public highway, but it is also a residential road that is very narrow and steep. It is not suitable for the volumes of traffic using it as a short cut especially when adequate main roads are close and using them takes just minutes longer.

His remark regarding the council attempting to close the road this is true, and they did close Gypsy Lane for the self same reason: residents complaining about the traffic using it as a short cut, What happened then was they all piled down Faircross Avenue and Everest Road, hence the 20mph restriction and speed humps that don't work that well.

Reference the ambulance and fire service, I have seen an ambulance just squeeze through but I think the snorkel or the larger engines would have a job to get through.

Ask the residents of Everest Road now if they would like the road blocked off for through traffic.

The residents of the named roads should not have to put up with the amount of traffic that uses these them as a short cut.

If Boot Hill, Wyke Road or Chickerell Road were blocked by an incident then it would be fair enough, but spare a thought for the residents who probably bought their homes when they were quiet residential roads.

M Philip, Wilton Drive, Weymouth.