On page 2 of the Hampshire Chronicle of May 18 you carried two reports about traffic problems around Winchester. Both make me wonder what our Liberal Democrat councillors are playing at.

"Early opposition to M3 upgrade plans", informed us that Councillor Jackie Porter said, "This would increase the traffic at the Cart and Horses junction, which has seen many accidents. Safety improvements could be addressed in the junction 9 plans".

The county council is the highways authority responsible for the Horse and Cart junction and has been since before the M3 was built. Addressing problems there has nothing to do with the plans for junction 9, which is over a mile away. Do I detect a buck being passed by Councillor Porter?

"Man killed in M3 crash", records the massive snarl up which was created on May 16 as follows, "The police closed the M3 between junctions nine and 11 forcing traffic into the city centre from the motorway and also from the A34 as the tailback stretched to Three Maids Hill and north of Kings Worthy."

But in future traffic will not only be forced from the motorway and A34 but diverted away from Andover Road and through Kings Barton. This would have to be done as keeping Andover Road open would be "madness", according to City Council Leader Martin Tod. I am sure that Councillor Tod wouldn't want your readers to forget that.

 

Christopher Sharratt,

Waverley Drive,

South Wonston