I totally agree with Graham Reeder’s letter (Journal Postbag, March 21) about the state of the approach roads into Salisbury from Alderbury. I turned right from Chipper Lane into Castle Street the other day noticed how shabby Castle Street is looking.

And this is not the only street in Salisbury to look like this.

It appears that there are no rules set by the council to make sure that shopkeepers keep their premises looking clean, tidy and decorated. Surely this has a detrimental affect on the way Salisbury looks to tourists? This is a city of high regard so if the infrastructure and aesthetic value of the city centre goes, so will the tourists.

If there is to be more development on the Southampton Road (and there will be despite protests, etc) who will be responsible if, and certainly when, the cathedral floods because water has nowhere else to go? The meadows from Quidhampton to Alderbury have been managed over the centuries to ensure that the cathedral remains water-free (the engineers of the day obviously felt that the site was suitable for such a construction).

If the development of housing goes ahead at the western edge of the city then that it is place to build a new food store. Building another hotel is not going to make Salisbury better and the positioning is ludicrous.

If the railways can spend money on making a bridge higher for bigger trains surely the council can seek to open up the by-pass debate. Salisbury is at a crossroads of a major road system, surely it is time to discuss this and stop the majority of traffic from clogging up our ring road which would make it easier for locals and visitors to get into the city. The longer the cars and lorries sit in traffic jams the more pollution is created which has the knock on effect on people’s health and buildings.

JENNY GEE, Winterslow 

FOLLOWING the postbag letter from Graham Reeder who is concerned about the detritus on the Southampton Road. Last year I wrote to our MP suggesting that jobseekers be engaged to clear up the roadside litter before the Olympics to make this country more attractive. I received a reply detailing for several reasons why this could not be done. So much for the slogan 'Big Society'. 'Apathy rules' would be more accurate.

ANDREW POOLE, Alderbury 

I THOUGHT I would visit B & Q on Saturday at just after midday.

The ring road in both directions had long queues so I returned home to shop on the internet.

For me the Southampton Road shops are becoming a no-go area.

How developers and planners can contemplate any more is a mystery to me. If Sainsbury’s wants to have a larger store why don't they develop one in the central car park where it can be accessed by both private cars and public transport?

Salisbury is a large market town and will never have the footfall to attract large shops, especially if there is no parking and the ring road is jammed for large parts of the day.

STEPHEN WAGSTAFF, Quidhampton