SIR –Trawling through Department for Transport reports gives some clues about why no radical solution to Worcester’s by-pass issue has emerged.

It seems that people under the age of 30 give very mixed views about their future car use intentions for a wide variety of reasons. This age group accounts for the huge increase in rail travel in recent years. As their circumstances change it is not known whether they will be as keen on cars as previous generations so there is a question mark over volume of road use.

It tends to be middle-aged and elderly people who get very hot under the collar about traffic congestion. However, putting it bluntly, government is unlikely to spend vast amounts of money on road projects to try and satisfy a section of the population which is likely to be dead in 25 years.

Other examples of “wait and see” policy can be seen in housing, health and social care and school provision, so we really shouldn’t be surprised.

Derek Fearnside

Worcester