ONCE again I am forced to write regarding the now infamous Urban Gateway at Whitchurch.

Following the closure of the road in order to make improvements, I was looking forward to at least an acceptable reconstruction. I could not believe my eyes on my first drive through to view the changes. The impossible has actually been achieved. It is now far, far worse than it was before!

It now looks like a scene from a first world war battlefield, a stage set for the battle of the Somme, complete with trenches, camouflage nets and the crowning touch, a row of headstones! I was fully expecting a group of bloodied and bandaged soldiers to appear at any moment, returning from the front.

An unspoiled English country lane has been totally destroyed, and for what? Some misguided idea that it would improve the lot of the residents of Whitchurch, nearly half a mile away. The fact that it is blindingly obvious that it will never achieve this aim just has not been taken on board. As a result, a potentially lethal stretch of road has been created — not only for motorists but for cyclists and pedestrians too.

The only way to solve the real problems suffered by the Whitchurch residents is to reduce the amount of through traffic using Whitchurch Road, not easy. But until this basic problem is addressed in a radical way nothing will change.

One thing is certain — the 'Whitchurch Redoubt' will go down in history as a resounding defeat for practical common sense.

John Deards

2 Walkham Cottages

Horrabridge