IN THE post today I received an invitation to attend a public exhibition to view details of the ridiculous proposal to build 100 houses on land off Britford Lane.

There were jolly sketches of toy town houses which I am sure fooled no one. An estate is an estate even though the leaflet tries to re-assure us that “this will not be a standard housing development.”

To my knowledge, nobody supports this scheme — the reasons why have been discussed many times. The possible flooding, the ruin to the environment, the ripping up of an area that is home to many species of wildlife, but to me and to many other locals, the main concern is the traffic problem and nobody has yet explained how this is going to be solved.

One hundred extra houses equals over 100 extra cars. How are they to exit from this new estate? There are only two ways – to exit onto the ring road or to use the rat run along Burford Avenue where cars are parked either side of the road. At peak times the exit onto the ring road at the bottom of Britford Lane is already very busy.

The leaflet tells us that “increase in traffic on local roads will be 2-3 per cent.” I suggest that whoever worked that one out should take their GCSE maths again or purchase a new abacus.

That figure is a joke.

The leaflet also talks about “improved pedestrian/cycle links to the city centre allowing for reduced reliance on the car.”

So are they expecting locals to abandon their cars and trudge through this new toy-town estate into town along “their improved pedestrian links” carrying all their bags of shopping – gazing as they do at “the formal tree lined green with outdoor play spaces”?

Apparently the plan will also include “a financial contribution for local highway improvements.”

To ease the congestion what do they intend to do? — build a bridge, a flyover or a tunnel?

I urge all local residents who received this ‘”Mickey Mouse” leaflet to attend the public exhibition (this weekend) to air their grievances and to get someone somewhere to speak the truth and to join the real world.

Salisbury is a beautiful city and we must do all we can to preserve it for future generations.

Common sense must prevail.

ARTHUR MILLIE Salisbury