SIR – ‘What happened to our bypass?’ screamed the headline of your letters page. But answer came there none. Nothing from the county council or the two Tory MPs who, according to the conspiracy theory, all colluded to block the western bypass from extending west across the river, for fear of upsetting Tory voters living in that area.

The County Council chairman in charge of highways at that time was Councillor Alwyn Davies. Interviewed on his retirement, he said, “I would have liked to have seen the by-pass completed around Worcester, which is really essential to solve the area’s traffic problems. Back in 1993 there were four options for a route… they all hit problems over the river crossing and at Bevere. And that’s pretty much how it’s been ever since.”

So, ‘a by-pass was ‘ really essential ‘ to solve the area’s traffic problems, but all the routes ‘hit problems’. What problems? Technical, financial or political? Technical is highly unlikely, bridging across flat farmland. Financial? These days £100 million is nothing and its equivalent would have been similarly trivial in 1993. HS2 will be £70 billion. One London tube station alone is costing £563 million, so financial constraints look equally unlikely. That leaves political – the conspiracy theory looks ever more likely!

And that was in 1993. Since then, Worcester’s population has gone up enormously. It’s increased by approximately one third, from 75,000 to 100,000. And now, a further 2,150-home ‘super-village’ ! And yet a county council officer said there is no need for a bypass until 2030! This just shows the danger of getting rid of senior staff at County Hall, proving there really is no substitute for experience. That officer’s statement had retired civil engineers shaking their heads in disbelief.

The county council should ask the real traffic ‘experts’ – the frustrated motorists using Worcester’s overcrowded roads every day, constantly sitting in ever longer queues in what is fast becoming this country’s most congested city.

The county council have just set out policies on improving the health of residents, one priority being mental health. They should be aware of a major new study which has recently linked air pollution to mental illness in children. So, here is yet another reason to bypass the city and improve the quality of the air people breath.

How much longer will the county council bury their heads in the sand?

David Withey

Malvern

What about other victims?

Sir – The world’s media are quick to highlight foreign wars and the waves of “refugees” heading west. We have the liberal do-gooders telling people to donate, and accept these “refugees”.

Yet the world’s media is silent about the state-sponsored murder of whites in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid 50,000 whites have been murdered. The police response to cries of help are “we have no fuel” or they don’t turn up at all. Billboards saying “ 1 Boer = 1 bullet “ were paid for by the ANC. This is state-sponsored genocide.

Whites are denied jobs under the “black empowerment” laws. This has led to poverty in the white community. Will the Bishop of Worcester and the do gooders be campaigning for the white South Africans to come to Britain, or remain silent?

Carl Mason

British Resistance Party, Worcester

Many thanks to Margaret

SIR – I know hospital is not perfect but some staff are angels, I had an operation for bowel cancer and was attended by Margaret Chivers. I never thanked her. Without her care when in depths of despair I do not think I would have survived.

A belated heartfelt thanks.

Paul Chandler

Droitwich