Once again Chippenham is going to be grid-locked from August 2 for, we think, four weeks.

This time surely could be reduced, either working 24 hours, seven days a week using floodlights, or employing a contractor that has more than four employees.

Looking back over the years, the learned souls of Chippenham spoke about a by-pass. The original idea was from the London Road to Queensbridge, they even pegged the route across the Normead.

Then there was a move afoot to join the Melksham road at the top of Rowden Hill (it could have been built on stilts).

This was discarded by the Chamber of Commerce worried about people not attending for shopping and the usual protests from people living in Rowden Hill.

So they came up with this wonderful idea of Avenue-la-Fleche, a bypass that by-passes nothing.

Now the good people of Chippenham have to suffer for decisions made 30 years ago. If the original plan to join the Melksham Road at Queensbridge had been used, you would not have this problem which occurs at the Bridge Centre and Rowden Hill.

John W Comley, Westmead Lane, Chippenham.