News that a start has been made on the new northern orbital road should be welcomed by everyone in this town who cares about our environment.

Relief of the continuous traffic jams faced by drivers entering Swindon from the north, and the lessening of exhaust fumes from idling engines, will be well worth £15 million and the replacement of a comparatively small amount of green land by ashphalt surfaces.

The new road will greatly improve the lives of people living in Swindon's northern development, and at Penhill, Pinehurst and Upper Stratton. These areas have been dominated by cars and lorries for too long.

Hopefully, by improving the temper of impatient drivers who now have to join long queues to get on to the A419, it should also help to make journeys a great deal safer.

The project has been designed with commonsense and forethought and we look forward to its completion.

The improvement cannot come too soon.