I WRITE regarding the comments made about road traffic in Donnnington Bridge Road (Oxford Mail, March 1).

This road was opened in 1961 to help relieve St Aldate’s from through-traffic.

This traffic had been hugely increased by lorries transferring 1100 and MG car bodies from Swindon to Cowley every 10 minutes, and the transfer of MG car bodies to Abingdon for assembly after being painted and trimmed at Cowley.

I lived in Freelands Road at the time and witnessed this transformation first hand. Donnington Bridge Road was turned from a quiet residential no-through road to a very busy and important route overnight.

Traffic continued to increase until the completion of the outer ring road in 1967.

This is now, however, unable to cope with the demands of traffic passing through our region, commuters and traffic transferring from the congested A34 to the M40. That is probably why local traffic shies away from it. But to describe Donnington Bridge Road as a rat run is absurd.

The implementation of the infamous Oxford Transport Strategy, which cost council tax payers tens of millions in the 1990s, brought about the closure of Oxford High Street. The lack of a properly planned alternative route saw Donnington Bridge Road, The Slade and Headley Way transformed into very busy inner ring roads without any consultation with those who live in these areas.

We have seen a decrease in the quality of life for those who are affected, and property values have decreased – though not council tax bandings.

I now live in The Slade area. Like the residents of Donnington Bridge Road, we have witnessed a huge increase in road usage, daily traffic jams and road noise. But a decrease in speed is not always the simplest answer.

If you slow traffic on arterial routes, you impair air quality for residents. You also disrupt bus routes and increase traffic jams.

What need is answers from our useless councils who created and are totally responsible for this ongoing problem.

The recent implementation of the 20mph speed limit is a typical example of ongoing council inefficiency – clogging up the main bus routes with traffic.

This recent policy is affecting the whole way of life and journey times for all in Oxford.

Richard Anderson, Wood Farm Road, Headington, Oxford