A GREAT deal has been written in your pages over the last few issues about the vexed question of the route for the link road. This is a hugely important issue for the area, the town generally and some parts especially.

I understand why many people are worried and suspicious and I wish I could suggest a way of resolving the uncertainties more quickly.

If it has not been clear from my previous utterances on this subject, as the County Councillor for the area who has been pressing the administration for the last four years since I was elected, to get on and do something about the air quality and traffic problem in the town, I want to stress that I will not agree to any scheme that does not improve the quality of life for the people I represent.

I am not opposing the continued investigation into the latest (western) route because there is every possibility that the matter will ultimately be decided at a Public Inquiry. If by then we cannot show that ALL routes have been properly researched, that will weaken our case for any other route we might prefer.

Some of your readers may recall that my colleague, the late respected town councillor, Arthur Hall, used his professional expertise to draw up a viable route - not dissimilar from the hillside route preferred by the county road designers a few months ago.

Three years ago Arthur and I travelled to County Hall together and presented these drawings to the designers.

Throughout, I have been at pains to ensure that no route is taken forward before the public have had a genuine opportunity to consider all the facts and express a view on the alternatives.

The results of the exhibition and consultation (which will involve every household in the town) will be reported to the County Council Executive who will decide the next move.

I cannot speak for the next Executive of the County Council, but the result of this exercise will carry great weight and I would imagine that they will support the informed preference expressed by residents and the local representative.

Nick Way

County Councillor

Westwood House

Westwood Road

Crediton