SIR – We read in the financial press that the Ministry of Transport are working frantically to collate £4 billion of projects to be announced at the next Chancellor’s autumn statement, as part of the Government’s regeneration plans.

Can we anticipate our county council will also be working frantically to prepare the project for a northern bridge over the River Severn?

The need for a new river crossing is of national strategic importance, as development in the west of England and the Welsh borders has long been hampered by the lack of efficient road communications.

The completion of the northern link will mean that through traffic may bypass Worcester without causing hour-long jams in its medieval street system or overloaded southern link at rush hours.

I don’t doubt our Worcestershire MPs will also be expending all their influence nationally to emphasise the strategic importance of this road scheme and ensure the funding is provided.

Our am I just dreaming?

Will the usual local vested interests deprive the other 95 per cent of Worcester citizens of a belated 20th century road system, let alone one suitable for the 21st century? Will east-west traffic in central England and Wales still crawl at 1950s speeds?

MALCOLM DALEBO

Worcester