Not just the A14, but the A1, too

THANK you for your very perceptive and timely front page article on the A14 (July 23). While it highlighted the likely problems of pollution and congestion if the Brampton road viaduct is demolished, there are several points that I would like to clarify.

The extra distance travelled by HGVs from Alconbury to Godmanchester is eight miles not three, as suggested, assuming that the drivers don't decide to add to the congestion and pollution on the road.

The whole of the viaduct is not "past its sell-by date", as suggested by John Bridge. The latest information received from the Highways Agency suggests that only the centre span and the two adjacent spans need replacing.

John Bridge is quite right when he says that people won't be circling the ring road all the time: they will be stationary on the newly-created traffic congestion area.

John Bridge appears to be assuming that retention of the viaduct would mean that it and the current A14 would be maintained by local councils. We believe that it should be maintained as a trunk road and that this responsibility would then remain with the HA.

The unnamed spokesman for the HA states that access to the railway will be improved. It will for those driving from Godmanchester, but for all other drivers it will be worse. Double the traffic at peak hours will mean double the frustration and, quite possibly, double the accidents and thus further congestion and pollution.

Buckden is concerned about the effect that the potential Brampton Road chaos will have, but more parochially it is worried by the failure to recognise that, unless the Brown Route is accepted to the west of the A1, then it may prove impossible to provide a bypass to the village at some future date.

We have offered to speak to John Bridge and to county and district councillors and would still welcome the opportunity to do so.

TERRY HAYWARD

Chairman

Buckden Parish Council A14 working group