The issue of traffic congestion in Evesham is of concern to all of us in this area.

Above all, the quality of our town and its surroundings is an essential feature of its future prosperity. The Journal correctly sets out the 1996 changes to Evesham's traffic system in the context of the 1990's Abbey Gates shopping centre development and more recently the unpopular and ill-conceived relocation of the post office.

However, merely to recreate a two-way traffic flow between the High Street and Workman Bridge is unlikely to produce a long term solution to the congestion problem - a problem shared by almost every conurbation in the region.

We require a much more fundamental solution, because of the increasing use of the car and the declining use of public transport, walking and cycling.

On current projections car use will increase by 50% in the next 20 years.

Let's look at longer term solutions, which also tackle ways of improving access to the town's facilities for the elderly, disabled and the young, but let's also look at ways of reducing our dependency on the motor car.

Dr Stephen Martin,

South Littleton, via e-mail