A MEETING this week in a West Yorkshire town was filled with, mostly, angry residents; angry about plans to reduce traffic speeds in and around the town to 20mph.

What’s the problem? many would ask. It would mean it was safer for pedestrians and cyclists, would create less noise and stop people speeding in notorious rat-runs.

The issue is that most of those polled have said they don’t want them, over 90 per cent, we are informed, but they say they are being ignored. Certainly the voting by the councillors suggested that.

It’s not just the reduced speed, there are the add-ons of possible speed humps. Talk of up to 143 of them was bandied about.

The humps, which some are saying are to be tables and cushions, if you know what they are, cause problems of their own for drivers - damaged springs and suspension. Others rev up in between the humps to announce their displeasure.

The town we are talking about is Ilkley, while neighbouring Ben Rhydding is being dragged into the argument too.

The thing is it is coming to a lot of towns and cities. Many places across the UK already have 20mph zones and once they are in, have a habit of spreading.

There are argument, too, that slower speeds mean the need to be in a lower gear which could cause more fuel to be used, a longer time on the journey and, thus, a potential for more pollution - unless the vehicle is electric.

Perhaps it is all a ploy to get people so fed up of driving so slowly that they ditch the cars and jump onto public transport. Now where’s that bus?