AS local Hamworthy councillors, we would like to comment on your Saturday letters page headline and letter suggesting the new bridge should be a replacement for the current bridge on the same site.

This suggestion seems to totally miss the point of the new bridge.

The new bridge will substantially reduce traffic delays. At present, long queues build up every two hours or so because of the regular bridge lifts. This is one of the worst traffic jams in the entire conurbation and contributes hugely to air pollution. This will be largely eliminated by the new bridge because generally there will always be one bridge open to traffic. It is also important as part of the £40m infrastructure the council has provided ahead of the new developments on the regeneration area.

We would also like to reassure people that, contrary to certain rumours, given regular maintenance there are many years of life left in the old lifting bridge. We are all aware of the massive delays in Hamworthy when this bridge is closed for maintenance.

Traffic on Blandford Road will be further reduced by the fact that there will be a ban on large lorries unless their destination is in Hamworthy. Lorries will be expected to use the Holes Bay Road.

CLLR MIKE WHITE (Hamworthy East), CLLRS GRAHAM CHANDLER, MIKE WILKINS (Hamworthy West)