I WONDERED on reading your article if it was not April 1st.

It was not the obvious waste of money to be spent on the proposed art work' near to Whitebirk roundabout that took my attention, but the reference to the proposed roadworks at junction 6 to the roundabout.

I trust that these works have been passed by the Highways Agency, and if so, how can they justify their double standards, having already refused any alterations to the roundabout at junction 8 of the M65?

There have been calls for the alleviation of traffic problems associated with the Whinney Hill landfil site in Altham, with either a direct link to the M65 or a modified junction 8 and a subsequent link road to Whinney Hill.

The traffic problem has been further compounded by the proposed Waste Technology Park in Huncoat.

These are grounds, one would have thought, for the Highways Agency to back such modifications. But no! One of the main reasons given was that any such roadworks must not interfere with existing road traffic.

Is it a case, therefore, that the ordinary council tax payer must give way to the powers that be together with big business in the form of the East Lancs Gateway business park, and face the problem once again of crumbling roads and crumbling houses.

GEOFF WHEATMAN, (Chairman REACH, Residents of Enfield, Altham, Clayton and Huncoat), Enfield Road, Huncoat.