CARROLLWOOD - Linda Weidder is all for safety and security in her home in Ventana subdivision. 
But the idea floating around of putting up gates at the entrances to the development to curb the increasing flow of cut- through traffic has her thinking twice. 

Weidder is concerned that gates could impede other vehicles - particularly fire trucks and ambulances. 

``My mother has a chronic pulmonary problem and she has very bad arthritis,'' Weidder said. ``I am an epileptic. If either of us needed medical care, we could be in big trouble.'' 

The Ventana Homeowners Association is mulling the idea of installing security gates at the subdivision's entrances on Gunn Highway and Lynn Turner Road. 

Association President Alphono Kirk said that his organization wants to discourage cut-through traffic, especially since an eye clinic is set to open shortly at the subdivision's Gunn Highway entrance. 

Kirk declined to comment about where the association stands on the subject. But, in order for them to install the gates, the community will have to agree to take over the cost and responsibility of maintaining the roads in their subdivision. 

The Hillsborough County Commission recently decided homeowners living in subdivisions where the roads are public can no longer put up gates and post guards. 

Weidder, a former paramedic and firefighter, said she is concerned about the delays that could be caused by a gate. 

``If an ambulance is needed, a gate will delay care by minutes,'' Weidder said. ``If someone is in cardiac arrest, if you delay by one or two minutes, you might as well say `sayonara.' '' 

Not all residents are opposed. Debbie Wheat said she considers herself ``on the fence'' though she is also concerned about emergency vehicles. Wheat's 5-year-old daughter, Laura, suffers from food allergies. 

Also, Wheat said that she hasn't seen much cut-through traffic in the community. 

``The only time I saw it was when the police directed traffic around an accident at Anderson Road and Gunn Highway,'' Wheat said. 

Terri Monahan, who lives next to the Gunn Highway entrance, said she's opposed because she has three school-age children and commercial vehicles would be restricted to the Gunn Highway entrance under the plan. 

``Every delivery truck or school bus is going to go right past my house,'' Monahan said. 

Suma Mohan, a mother of two, said she didn't think the gates would improve security because too many people would have the access. 

``FedEx, the UPS drivers, the garbage truck, are all going to have to have the codes,'' Mohan said. ``Everyone's going to be able to get in, so what's the point?''