MADAM - In responding to Mark Hawthorn’s letter, let’s first consider his idea that minority or individual positions are inherently wrong.

This position demonstrates why many politicians are not trusted and so often make ridiculous decisions.

Ignore the science, ignore the evidence and follow the herd.

Such thinking as demonstrated by Cllr Hawthorn resulted in the disastrous badger cull, to pick a current example.

The call for a motorway across the Cotswolds is not based on evidence or figures but a simplistic response to a complicated problem and a lack of courage to stand up and propose a solution which could benefit both commuters and communities.

I suggest he goes to talk to the Cotswold Conservation Board and listens to their suggestions instead of quoting a flawed consultation process.

At our expense, and to justify his own position, he has provided a ‘consultation’ that only allows a ‘Yes’ vote — for a proposal that could result in a doubling of vehicles and which will move congestion elsewhere in the county.

Next time you are stuck at lights or in traffic consider that over 60 years of road building has resulted in huge amounts of congestion.

So what do you think of 70,000 vehicles a day across the Cotswolds?

Well, you can’t vote NO to the M417 juggernaut.

Cllr Sarah Lunnon

Green,

Stroud Central