A new motorway extension is vital

I SYMPATHISE with Ian Parker over his traffic problems in the Rowlands Gill area and his view on the potential worsening of the situation if the proposed housing developments go ahead.

We can add to the picture the additional housing proposed in the Ponteland area and feed in the common problem for the whole of the area west of Newcastle.

Most of the new householders will probably be commuting to or through Newcastle and the common denominator of these problem roads is the Western Bypass.

The so-called traffic experts will say ‘no problem, we have recently upgraded it.’ But wait, we are going to upgrade the A1 into Scotland...

As I wrote a year ago this really is a stupid idea as far as this region is concerned, because much of the traffic now causing congestion on the M6 will want to move over to the A1.

The Western Bypass will become more congested so where is the outlet? The A19 and the Tyne Tunnels. This is not science fiction, this is the not too distant future for the area unless some serious rethinking is applied by the authorities.

I lived for many years with easy access to the M25 and it used to be a pleasure to use, bypassing the congestion of roads within its limits. It is now a nightmare and quite often a long-time parking lot. About 30 years ago ideas were floated for another ring road about 10 miles outside the M25 perimeter but were dropped.

Before all these new houses are built should we not now consider a major new motorway extension of the A1(M) say from Washington services to Ryton, Throckley, Newcastle airport and Morpeth? We have to be realistic about the future.

There will no doubt be protesters. I will accept their arguments when they forsake their cars and use public transport. BRIAN TAYLOR, North Shields