By-pass' chances (From Gazette Series)

By-pass' chances

IN RESPONSE to Derek Burgess' letter (Gazette April 21), I hope Alkington and Hamfallow Parish Councils did not "persuade the county council to improve the B4066."

These parish councils should exist for the people of the parishes. I am sure the people living along the B4066 do not feel properly represented by these parish councils if this is what they have done.

Neither Alkington Lane nor the B4066 are adequate to carry the large numbers of huge lorries that presently use them and if either road or both roads are "improved" this will mean the by-pass will be put off once again. If there is really no chance of a by-pass being built in the near future then both roads should be improved enough to carry the present number of lorries now and, if the incinerator is built or Sharpness regenerated further, or more housing built then the by-pass should be made a reality immediately. These inadequate roads cannot continue to be used in this dangerous way and money should be found for a by-pass.

I have been writing letters to officials concerning the above and a very disturbing issue has been raised. Two of the people writing back to me have intimated that the decision to "improve" the B4066 has already been made. If this is the case it means that the recent exhibition was little more than a PR exercise, funded by the taxpayer. Furthermore the forms handed out at the exhibition for us to complete and the exhortations to write to councillors, MPs etc to help them "make decisions" were nothing more than a condescending waste of the public's time and energy. I trust this is not the case, otherwise the people of the Berkeley area are being arrogantly patronised over such important issues as their families' safety.

Pam Hillier Hillview Berkeley Heath