Letter: Relief road - New route would be a mini M25

Controversy is bound to occur whenever this subject is raised as we are all well aware of the horrendous traffic surplus which now exists. Alarm bells always start ringing when facts, figures and alternative routes are banded about as they imply the proposers are experts on the subject.

It goes without saying that because any such scheme would have to be funded by the council and not by government, development along the route would be a matter of course as a means to offset the cost. I am certainly no expert but the impression is given that everything would be hunky dory if such a scheme went ahead.

The Bilton Hall Lane and Bilton Lane residents who have campaigned for decades to get the lane resurfaced at a cost of thousands to finally get the job done, they must be delighted to be considered a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. It sounds like another case of trying to do what Donald Trump failed to achieve when a local resident stood in the way of his new golf course in Scotland.

I wondered if the people supporting this suggested route were in favour of the recent proposals (thankfully resoundingly defeated) to open up the Stray for more commercial events? Had that gone through, a part of our unique and beautiful town would have been lost forever.

I am certainly not against change but I assume the experts have already carried out the feasibility studies and have decided that the detrimental effect of turning this suggested route into a mini M25 was not acceptable.

Impossible to cover all the issues here but its obvious where I am coming from.

Mr Rowntree

St Marys Walk, Harrogate