SIR — What a co-incidence! Within a week or so of attending a pre-planning meeting in Washford for the erection of 18 new houses in two linked developments, and where many of the attendees where vociferous in the problems that this would cause to the A39 bottleneck going through the village, I find in your 25 Years Ago section the results of an acrimonious exchange in the council offices over a five-year delay in the proposed by-pass from Williton to Carhampton, which was shelved 'until a later date - 1994-1995'. It was desperately needed then. With more traffic on the road, why isn't it more desperately needed now? We know now, however, that it will never happen. We are not against the proposals to build much-needed housing in Washford but are concerned that the outlet road for both developments will join the A39 on the Williton side of the dangerous bend and on the site where JD Plants used to exist. This is a fast-moving section, approached by traffic at speed coming round a blind corner, and we often have to wait five minutes or more before we can emerge safely onto the road. Walking past the houses into the village, where there is no pavement, is fraught with danger from oncoming traffic and we fear the worst for any child or mothers pushing prams and having to negotiate that stretch of road leading up to the corner. A footpath is scheduled to link the new estates to the village, but people will always take the shortest route available. For the proposed developments to go ahead without strong resistance from local residents, the planners must also, therefore, come up with suggestions for ameliorating the ongoing problems of the A39. Janet Chadwick, Washford.