SIR, I believe that the meeting in Grove regarding the bridge closure on the A338 was not a waste of time as it highlighted, to a very full house, just how badly the huge developments taking place in Grove and Wantage are being managed, together with the apparent lack of local knowledge of those involved in the process.

The meeting publicised the fact that large numbers of people that will be affected including some 300 employees of Williams F1 who seemed not to have been approached about the issue prior to the meeting. I wonder how many other employers in the area have been approached or even the health centre?

The most sensible thing would be to put in the planned northern link road now, using the alignment afforded by Cow Lane and its associated bridge over the railway to the west of Williams F1, as this bridge also has to be dealt with as part of the electrification programme.

Taking this approach would solve a number of issues by providing an excellent alternative route while the bridge on the A338 is rebuilt and as a real bonus, provide a more appropriate and safer route for construction traffic for the development taking place on the airfield.

Sadly we don’t seem to do sensible co-ordinated planning in this area.

Rodney Pollock, Carlton Close, Grove