Who would want to cycle on this road?

Cllr Gadd had arranged with the Highways Agency's Interroute network engineering department to meet the engineer responsible for coordinating the 14-week safety programme which started on the trunk road on Monday.

The work will extend from Coneyburrow Lane to the Hooe turn-off and involves creation of a joint footpath and cycle track, road islands, anti-skid surfacing and better speed limit signage.

The St Mark's ward councillor had originally requested the meeting in order to discuss where the necessary plant and materials would be stored during the work.

But, having studied plans sent by the agency last week, she had a wider agenda by Tuesday and was accompanied by ward colleague and Town Mayor Cllr Stuart Earl. The Observer was also present at the Barnhorn Road meeting point near Old Farm Road.

Cllr Gadd pitched in immediately telling the engineer: "I have never seen a more ridiculous scheme. If you put islands in the middle of this roads all the mad-heads will crash right into them.

"What we need is double white lines right down the road to Little Common to stop the overtaking and cut the speed..."

But she got no further. The engineer made it clear that he had come to discuss plant storage and nothing else - and he was certainly not going to say anything that might be reported.

He was not the architect of the scheme, which had been drawn up by the department's previous trunk road agents. His role was to coordinate the work, he said.

The Observer offered to withdraw so the councillors could attempt to explain their concerns about the scheme.

But their meeting was brief.

Afterwards, Cllr Earl said: "I cannot remember any consultation on this scheme whatever. If any consultation took place, who was it with?"