Too many excuses for Mead Way delays

Once again we have delays at Mead Way.

I have worked with fibre optic cables for several years and we have had issues, ie gas main or electric cables, but we always found a solution which did not stop us finishing on time if not earlier. So I’m sorry I don’t believe these excuses at at all.

Also why is no one working at the Messenger roundabout again?

Malcolm Lyons

Ex SSE Streetworks

Freight fiasco time for railway renaissance

Currently we have a major logistics problem in our country which has been caused by a lack of planning and foresight by the current government, in not recognising a coming lorry driver shortage, and the several cumulative effects, and not exclusive Brexit that have lead to the predicament.

What a shame it is that all the little branch railway lines that criss-crossed our country prior to the Beeching cuts in the 1960s are not in place as most of the goods could be taken by rail freight which would also give an increased green bonus for the environment.

Would it not make sense to open up some of these branch lines and re-lay some of them, and then have more container depots and distribution hubs, and then have fleets of possibly electric or hybrid box vans to make supermarket deliveries where possible?

The existing lorry drivers could be used primarily for service station deliveries and large essential items.

Maybe Grant Shapps could do an urgent survey so as to see where these lines could be reconstituted whilst at the same time put much more of the nation’s essential goods on the existing rail routes?

Surely this must make sense as it would make long term sense for our congested road system and at the same time be a winner for the environment.

This idea is surely one of going back to the future as the congestion on the roads and the resultant pollution from heavy haulage needs to be addressed urgently for the sake of the climate.

How much of the existing rail freight capacity is underutilised.

Surely it is time for a renaissance for the rail network, as it must make sense in the long term going forward?

Graham Woodward

Nelson Street

Swindon