Letter: Relief from traffic nightmare is a dream

Sir: Bill Nicholls writes in support of the Birmingham northern relief road (letter, 28 September), observing that those who drive on the M6 in the West Midlands 'do not do it for fun'. He continues to describe conditions on the M6 as 'a living nightmare'.

Unfortunately Mr Nicholls has not examined the traffic figures for the Birmingham northern relief road or he would have observed that neither the Highway Agency nor the private company promoting the new motorway anticipates a significant reduction in traffic on the M6 as a result.

They do anticipate more local traffic using the M6, which would mean Mr Nicholls finding junctions in the conurbation more clogged up, something that would be unlikely to add to the 'fun' of using the M6.

I'm afraid that Mr Nicholls' living nightmare will remain whether or not the road is built. What will be eliminated if it is built is 27 miles of green belt. The leafy suburbs of Mr Nicholls' Tettenhall may not be affected but for many other people it will mean their lives being downgraded in favour of even more traffic in the region.

Yours sincerely,

GERALD KELLS

Walsall, West Midlands