Sir.-I wholeheartedly agree with Mr Cooper's views regarding the traffic lights installed on the Eastrop roundabout.

They present an unwarranted hazard to the many motorists that use the roundabout outside of rush hour.

Even during these times, one often sees motorists passing through the lights at red, only to wait on the roundabout, blocking the path of the next set of motorists who have been waiting for a green light. The result - gridlock!

It seems the planners of this traffic light system have now been given the task of addressing the perceived problems of Stagecoach, hence the reference to a contraflow system in New Street - a more dangerous and unworkable idea I've never come across.

-Andrew Ball, Church Square, Basingstoke.

Sir.-With reference to the current state of affairs within the Basingstoke road network and the proposed Brighton Hill changes.

When I came to Basingstoke in 1970, the ring road was being constructed and there were plans for flyovers etc, as part of this project, as I recall. Since that time nothing has materialised.

We do, though, see a constant waste of public funds in unnecessary changes. How many times has the Black Dam network been reorganised and at what cost in total? How many times has the M3 at junction seven/A30 been changed and at what cost? I have lost count of the changes in Western Way.

These are just the ones I see and I am sure there are others.

I agree improvements are required as the volumes of traffic increase and safety is prioritised, but surely let's do it once and properly.

On a secondary note, why is it not possible to have intelligent traffic light systems that flash amber in times of low traffic volumes? The wasted time and environment effects are two negatives that come to mind as a result of such archaic systems.

I see these around the world in major cities far more crowded than Basingstoke and even in the UK.

Did I hear Basingstoke council will lend the county some money?

-David Simmonds, Sheppard Road, Basingstoke.