The letter you published about the Hilperton Gap Road states that it was withdrawn from the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan and that the money earmarked for it, including the contribution from the Paxcroft Mead developer, will not be used.

If this contribution is not used within a certain time I believe it has to be forfeited.

When Paxcroft Mead was inflicted on the Parish of Hilperton despite practically unanimous objection by the village residents, a sop was offered in the shape of a Hilperton bypass.

The first half was built to service Paxcroft Mead and a great deal of money was spent on traffic calming measures on the length of Devizes Road east of the Lion and Fiddle. Phase 2 was to be the Gap road.

Church Street and Hill Street have so far received no relief whatsoever. Meanwhile, in the years since Paxcroft Mead was inaugurated, the volume of traffic through the old village, particularly of juggernauts, has increased tremendously and is a menace to lives and property.

So, what is to be done? Nothing it seems; the carrot dangled at the start before the eyes of the village inhabitants can be allowed to wither away now that Paxcroft Mead is in being.

Our council tax has gone up by 31.27 per cent over the past four years, far faster than pensioners' pensions, but doubtless councils can find other ways to spend our money, including the considerable sums starting to accrue from the houses being occupied in Paxcroft Mead.

Something must be done about the level of traffic throughout the village.

HN POTTS,

Cherry Gardens,

Hilperton,

Trowbridge.