MY congratulations to Darlington Borough Council for eventually granting the residential street of Merrybent, on the A67 to the west of Darlington, a 40mph speed limit in accordance with long-established Government guidelines rather than the 50mph limit more befitting an urban motorway which we have suffered for many years.

I can’t help wondering however why the 50mph limits have been retained at either end of the village over such short distances – particularly past the dangerous junctions with Merrybent Drive Estate and Low Coniscliffe.

This also now means that there are no fewer than eight different speed limits within three miles of the A67 between Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, and Piercebridge. Is there any reason for this or does the number sequence 30 40 50 40 50 30 50 60 have an underlying subliminal significance of which I am unaware?

Dave Christensen, Merrybent, Darlington.