NOW that the furore over the merits and/or demerits of the proposed two routes for the link road have died down a little, perhaps it is an opportunity to stand back and take an objective look at what we are trying to achieve and look at all the options?

About three weeks ago I was discussing the proposed options for the route of the link road with a friend. He put forward the proposition that it should start at a point to the west of Downes House Lodge, following the line of the existing footpath and continuing in a northerly direction to terminate at Downend Road on the Lords Meadow estate.

I took a walk with my dog up Downeshead Lane past the mobile phone mast, where one has a panoramic view of the area and immediately wondered why this wasn't the preferred route from the beginning!

The point of this letter is to express my surprise when my wife read out a report from an issue of the Courier dated early October, stating that an anonymous business man had suggested a modification of the above route way back in October 2008 and consulted with our county councillor Nick Way.

Why was it not on the agenda as a fourth option?

We have spent a whole year wrangling over a hill route which was never remotely a practical option, the western route, which created more problems than it resolved and with the weight of the opposition to the idea from the community it was churlish to pursue it.

The valley route, which had some merit but which only had a very slim chance of ever leaving the drawing board had a very vociferous following.

I think it is a disgrace to all concerned that a year has been wasted and a great deal of ill-will has been generated for what? Stalemate.

Have I missed something? The above route has none of the disadvantages of any of the other three proposed.

Starting at the point by the footpath there would be a gentle gradient for about 200yards up through a "scrubby" copse, then level out to follow the contour to the estate where it would be in a position to be continued as a town relief road.

The question of pollution would not arise, it would not affect anyone's privacy, the allotments would not be vandalised and Downes House would not be affected.

A couple of farm sheds would need to be re-located and a junction with the A377 constructed but that would appear to be the only downside and not insuperable.

The spur at the new roundabout we understand was constructed for the re-development of "Wellparks" which had been agreed before the planned link road.

The "spur" was not an arrogant presumption that the western route would have to be accepted, so there is no obligation to bring it into the equation when choosing the most efficient way to get from A to B which is the one proposed and I suspect may even turn out to be the cheapest.

Bill Rimmer.

"Spinners Cottage"

4 Park Street,

Crediton.