JUDGING by the letters recently published, either for or against a road through Hilperton Gap, there is actually agreement from both sides that nobody wants the heavy traffic on their doorstep.

Moving traffic out of Hilperton into the Gap would inflict the same disturbance to residents around the Gap and more seriously would destroy an open space long enjoyed by the local community.

Originally a north-eastern route was suggested to bypass Hilperton and this is still the ideal plan.

However, with the prospect of Paxcroft Mead development, planning permission for a distributor road through the Gap was granted in 1988.

This permission is undeniable and any public protest today cannot counter this fact.

I understand that the road would be built partly with money committed by developers and subject to houses being built in the Gap.

The buffer zones on either side of the road area prevents the building of houses! So until sufficient money can be found, the road cannot be built.

This saga will grind on but nothing can be done to overturn the planning permission. So what can be done to the satisfaction of all sides, removing traffic from Hilperton and saving the Gap?

Joint effort is needed to focus on a north-eastern route therefore making the Gap route redundant.

The major stumbling block is not the lack of recognition by authorities for this sensible alternative, but simply how could it be financed?

RALPH BUTCHER

Middle Lane

Trowbridge