Battledown bridge in Pack Lane was damaged by a lorry, resulting in temporary closure of road and railway. This highlights the pathetic road connection that is to be used in the proposed development of Manydown.

The bridge is so narrow that only one vehicle at a time can go through it. Anybody with an ounce of common sense can see that a new, bigger and better bridge either under, or over the railway at that point is required, if the intended development is to go ahead.

I am continually amazed at the failure of the county council and the borough council to grasp this nettle of a problem.

The traffic that will be generated by the development of Basingstoke in the oncoming years needs a western bypass that will connect the M3 Dummer junction to the Kingsclere Road. That bypass could have several junctions that will allow traffic from developments to travel freely, and it will require a new railway crossing right by the old Battledown bridge. But the county and borough councils would far rather traffic was channelled along Winchester Road and thereby create an enormous grid-lock.

Still, never mind, the developers will make a fortune any way, grid-lock or not!

Brian Simmonds, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke