Sir – I was surprised to read in your report of roadworks on the Botley Road (May 24) that these included making the entrance to the western arm of North Hinksey Lane two-way. As it happens, this is the only element of the scheme that is subject to local consultation, and the reason is that the change would badly affect the small collection of houses behind McDonald’s (once our local pub) that is the rump of the village of Old Botley. Opening the western arm will turn these houses into a traffic island and as the traffic here is already almost unbearable, we have protested, backed by our county councillor and North Hinksey Parish Council.

The county council’s traffic planners, intent on easing the traffic along the Botley Road from Frideswide’s Square, hadn’t taken account of the fact that there are dozens of offices and two industrial estates at this end that attract many cars and lorries.

The narrow roads, only ever intended for village traffic, can barely accommodate them as it is, especially when they are clogged up with parked cars whose owners have gone into town on the bus.

Inviting traffic to try and enter from the western end of North Hinksey Lane will worsen congestion here, and it’s hard to see what difference it will make at the other end of Botley Road, when the main problem is the bottleneck at the railway bridge.

The decision will be made on June 7 by the cabinet member for transport, and we very much hope he will take local considerations into account. A small improvement on the Botley Road will be a big problem for people living in Old Botley.

Ag MacKeith, Oxford