DRIVING along New Brighton promenade, I saw the statue of a clown and upon inquiring of a local resident was told it was the symbol of the Highways Department (seem to be renamed as Department of Traffic Impedance) with the motto "They shall not pass".

They are devoted to generating traffic queues, recently installing a new mini roundabout on Harrison Drive that obstructs four lanes of traffic in place of the free-flowing T-junction that was no problem.

Then they erected a big wooden barrier at the M53 junction to stop all traffic, making it a blind approach.

The latest bit of idiocy has been to install a Saughall Massie sign on the Upton Bypass, sending one away from the place in the Arrowe Park direction.

The policy is at least consistent as there is a sign in the area sending hospital visitors to West Kirby and when I complained, they insisted it was correct.

To think we are paying good money for this abysmal performance.

Archie Begg, Upton