SIR — I have lived on the Main Road, Otterbourne, for 50 years.

In that time, in an effort to cope with ever-increasing volumes of traffic, Otterbourne Hill has been lowered, the road straightened, a by-pass built; this was upgraded to a motorway, which was then enlarged.

The size, weight and numbers of vehicles has at least doubled, with some HGVs being 44 tonnes now.

However, our planners still insist that this same road can cope with ever more traffic.

Winchester city planners allowed a farm to become an industrial site, and county planners continue to grant permission for industrial units there to store waste and huge plant and equipment for road repairs, etc.

All of this work requires more and more lorries, which will use the Main Road and Poles Lane on a 24-hour, seven-day basis.

Is this area surreptitiously to become the waste centre for the whole of Southern England?

When will the planners decide the road can no longer cope safely?

Residents beware!

P Cole (Mrs), Main Road, Otterbourne.