REGARDING my view concerning the controversial A5225 by-pass, our SWAN press officer Tommy Howarth (no relation, but a lifelong neighbour and friend) was quite right to redress the balance and other SWAN members have their own views.

I first heard about a so-called by-pass as far back as September 9, 1964, and have kept the cutting!

This was when the 'overspill' battle was raging and this road, along with others, were to relieve the extra traffic that the unwanted overspill would have brought. I hope you are reading this, 'P R' from Chorley Old Road!

The 1964 map featured the M61 which was built six years later. I was always against any motorway going through Westhoughton, as I know it would lead to development. When houses are for sale near to a motorway access, estate agents exploit this by stating 'Within minutes of the motorway network'.

Since 1974, we have had blitzes of 'carpet building' which over the years has added to the traffic. My own view is that a by-pass is okay if it is sensibly routed and doesn't bring further development. The Atherleigh by-pass was great at first, but over the years extra lanes have been added, plus a horrendous roundabout at Twist Lane to cope with extra traffic from development and shopping units.

If I drive towards Warrington I am happy to use the old road again, and others will do the same -- so the traffic is back on the road which originally was intended to be relieved! In other words, it's a vicious circle.

Imagine a 'Twist Lane' type roundabout at Daisy Hill, as they have enough problems with the Redrow roundabout. Developers are unscrupulous and cannot be trusted. We partially won our public inquiry due to lack of a by-pass, and realise one cannot have it all ways. I wonder if 'P R' of Chorley Old Road is a NIMBY?

Perhaps if us 'Howfeners' were a little 'dafter', we may not have lost countless acres of green fields in the 1970s. No one would, I'm sure, like to live among people who saw cows' heads off!

B Howarth

Alexandria Drive

Westhoughton