IT was helpful to be given the opportunity to visit Tottenham House, view the plans for its development and question members of the team responsible.

The restoration and maintenance of the building is to be welcomed, but the impact on the local community difficult to assess.

Presumably when it is stated that the complex, luxury golf centre and conference venue will contribute to the local economy it means more than the circulation of more money in the area, but a much greater contribution to the coffers of the local authorities by the payment of rates on a luxury business development.

The money will certainly be needed, for our somewhat fragile rural road system is going to come under some heavy usage.

While stating that Bedwyn, coping with a car problem of its own, will be bypassed and heavy goods

vehicles coming from the south will approach from the A346 through Burbage and those from the north from the A4 through the forest, there appears to be no guarantee they will keep to these routes.

Nor, as far as I could tell, are there any plans to widen or improve these narrow roads. In fact it is stated that the roads are such that two vehicles can pass. In our small car passing our bus a valuable service is just about comfortable. We are told that there are no accident trends on local rural roads and traffic growth will be in line with national trends.

Even so, the increased traffic flow we are bound to experience could be a problem water could be another, but that is another story. We need to know more.

P DUVEEN

Great Bedwyn