Your name

Your email (will NOT be made public)

Your postcode (will NOT be made public) :

Spam prevention, please type 'SUPPORT' in the box below :

Comment

Supporters

2008-04-13 18:31:08, samantha Hendy

I don't think that it will make a difference to the traffice problems in the town. We need to preserve this space for wildlife as these types of areas are rapidly diminishing. The two mile coppice should not be destroyed by building this road, there are other solutions like public transport.

2008-04-13 18:20:12, Samantha Hendy

As I am originally from Weymouth I

2008-04-13 15:44:52, David Beaton

The proposed road will just send traffic to a different bottleneck, as Weymouth and its environs can only absorb a limited volume of vehicles. I am sure that occasional visitors, or those who travel this route regularly, will willingly put up with delays, knowing that the alternative would have been extensive destruction of some of Dorset's finest countryside.

2008-04-11 14:05:52, Diana Langridge

More roads mean more cars to the detriment of wildlife and the environment. We should be protecting our green spaces not building on them.

2008-04-01 14:06:30, gp

The bottom line is that the relief road won't make any difference at all. The most likley effect is to make the traffic situation even worse than it already is. If it had been a straight bypass maybe it would have helped but it is just a mishmash. I'm glad I'm not a resident of Littlemoor and surrounding areas. Even though Dorchester Road will be blocked off, there will still be a lot of traffic that will take precedence over the new road at Manor Roundabout. So the traic jam will just be transferred a mile downstream.

2008-03-15 20:40:28, C. Johnson

The comments from the many supporters of the Bypass the Bypass Campaign sum up the reasons why the proposed relief road would be an environmental disaster and an enormous waste of money. Our Local Authorities' efforts should be going into finding creative environmentally friendly transport solutions, not encouraging increased use of the car. The 2012 Olympics will be here and gone in the space of a few weeks, and can hardly justify the long-term negative effect of this unnecessary road, when there are other far less damaging and more reasonable alternatives on the table. I am saddened that it is supported by Mr Knight.

2008-02-19 10:51:04, Miss Karen West

I support this campaign because our land is disappearing at such a fast pace to build more houses and more roads. We cannot keep doing this,no wildlife,no where to walk,no fresh air left to breathe! As for house building, i have never seen so many houses up for sale, we need more reliable public transport.

2007-12-12 10:45:49, Daniel Black

I whole-heartedly support Bypass the Bypass. Everyone knows now road-building just generates more traffic. The environmental, health and social costs unaccounted for make this proposed bypass uneconomic. Dorset is the only county in England without a city or a motorway. Let's celebrate it's uniqueness by staying true to our roots!

2007-12-05 11:16:20, h.franklin

since has the dorchester road by-pass become the weymouth relief road?re-designation smacks of propaganda

2007-11-23 23:26:48, Al

I think the case against this daft and backward thinking scheme has been well put by the objectors - the vast majority of whom, contrary to what several misguided supporters state, live locally (and some I know actually on the Dorchester Road itself). A good campaign against a highly paid team from DCC (waste of money!!).

2007-11-08 11:44:43, Lorraine Keane

I often take my children to visit their grandparents in Weymouth and feel the beautiful dorset surroundings should not be destroyed by more roads, created for more car usage. We must find alternative, so my children can enjoy the natural enviroment that their grandparents did.

2007-11-06 18:18:19, sue luxford

This road is not needed,what is required is an integrated transport system.If it goes ahead ,not only will there be considerable damage to the environment but any possible benefit to the local economy will be outweighed by the effect upon physical and mental wellbeing.

2007-10-26 13:39:46, Steve

Last night at 8pm i travelled from Dorchester to Weymouth along Dorchester Rd. Apart from one other car behind me and the odd car travelling towards Dorchester the road was practically empty. So why are Dorset County Council wasting £80 million of tax payers money building another road ?

2007-10-18 15:25:40, Caroline Lee

2007-10-12 15:07:14, Lynne Crowe

Apart from all the reasons to object that existed when we fought the Brown Route, we now have the prospect of hugely rising food and fuel costs and a world shortage of raw materials, thanks to India and Chinas' unprecedented industrial growth. Will we be able to continue taking our cars for granted basic necessities? I can see cars becoming rare luxury items again within a generation and we should be planning for that.

2007-10-09 12:39:47, brad

2007-09-25 12:01:20, Andrew Fielding

I grew up in Dorchester, and my parents still live in the area. There is no need for another road to Weymouth - an improvement to the rail systme would be far more appropriate. I understand that there are soon to be two trains an hour to Weymouth, which is a start, but there need to be more stations too - especially one behind Morrisons, and a continuation on towards Portland. Weymouth has the opportunity to be a great sustainable travel town, or a backward looking road hungry dump. I know where I'd prefer to move back to when I am older!

2007-09-19 19:41:22, A, L and S Fish

Keep up the hard work. So sad to see how ignorant some people are of the facts - even when you point out that you are often quoting DCC figures. Dorset and Wiltshire have particularly backward administrations and they are therefore missing out on opportunities to fund alternatives that would make a difference. Think global and act local remains as true now as it did 10 or even 20 years ago. Our countryside is precious and should be protected. Best wishes.

2007-09-18 21:46:37, Jenny webster

I have not lived in the area very long, but even I can see this Bypass will nt alleviate the problems, something changing at the Littlemoor traffic lights may help. Old buildings, beautiful countryside, all gone to free a few people from inconvenience and a bottle neck elsewhere. I am affected by the traffic, but it is worth it to protect the areas of outstanding natural beauty in this lovely county.

2007-09-12 23:50:37, stu

Cant say I enjoy being sat in the traffic jam from the hairpin going into weymouth until the littlemoor road junction (after these lights getting into weymouth is dead easy!), but any alternatives need to be well thought out and sympathetic to the area for sure. As for trains sadly they are so irregular from here in somerset (we dream of the london service!) that it is not viable. AFAIK the lack of park and ride at the start of weymouth does not help as well (If the weymouth council site didnt error I could confirm.) I do support you, but unfortunately something does need to happen to work out the littlemoor junction especially peaktime summer....

2007-09-12 17:03:57, Dr Adrian King

This bypass is not needed. We should not spoil the beautiful countryside for a pointless piece of tarmac.

2007-09-06 21:29:09, Damian Brothers

The imminent peaking of world oil supply will mean that all road traffic will start to decline as the price of petrol rises. Building roads does not solve traffic problems.

2007-08-31 18:10:07, Jonas

I'm convinced the Littlemoor lights are rigged in favour of the Littlemoor Road. Used to travel back to the Dorchester Road from Preston via Littlemoor Road at about 5pm during the summer. Traffic was regularly backed up to Somerfield. Never seems to happen now. Isn't it odd that travelling either way, the problem always seems to start and end at this junction?

2007-08-30 22:34:49, Theresa Hanger

dONT RUIN THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA

2007-08-29 22:37:58, cubby

Some reasons that the Brown Route never went ahead was because it would have caused disturbance to roosting bats in Horselynch Plantation, and would have cut through the old Lodmoor North Landfill Site releasing unknown toxins into the environment, first in the firing line would be Lodmoor bird reserve. The threat of litigation for the disturbance caused to protected species is a valuable tool, as well as upping the cost of ludicrous road schemes such as this. Weymouths green fingers of undeveloped land, like Lorton Valley and Curtis Fields extend into the heart of the town, and many of its residents who arent totally tied to their cars realise the importance of them as breathing spaces. Their is a proud history of local people standing up in defence of these areas when the planning system (as usual) ignores us and the developers threaten to move in. Have no doubt D.C.C, no public inquiry into this road scheme will leave many with no option other than to once again take direct action.

2007-08-29 22:31:34, Gill Porter

I am against the destruction of natural habitats, and more environmental damage by the building of the bypass.

2007-08-29 12:44:13, catherine caudrey

I am totally against the proposal to build this road for the reasons on your web site. I drive the road frequently. Most of the hold-ups result from road works and Littlemoor traffic lights. The traffic to Weymouth is only en route to Weymouth and Portland or places en route ie to a dead-end.

2007-08-28 19:05:08, Sarah Butterworth

I walk my dog in these woods atleast once a week. As we are surrounded by sea, the woods are very special to weymouth residents and provide a rare peice of greenery. Another road will make no difference; there are always cars to fill it, more traffic jams, and the demand for MORE carparks in weymouth... how is the town to supply these? Why not put more then 2-3 carriages onto the trains and encourage people to use them more often, ie reduced fares, park and ride schemes etc.

2007-08-27 17:27:55, PETER NEVILL

WE MUST ON NO ACCOUNT ALLOW THIS PLAN TO GO AHEAD THE REASONS ARE SO MANY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SUFFER THE MOST ARE THE POOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE "BIRD" AREA OF LITTLMOORE WHO HAVE NOT BE ADDRESSED TO THE DANGERS WHICH THEY WOULD SUFFER

2007-08-27 17:17:49, Jan Przybylski

Weymouth does not have any through traffic. All vehicles on Dorchester Road must finish their journey in Weymouth. The traffic jam on Dorchester Road will simply be transfered to the bypass. The bypass will have no effect on the present journey times. vis. Portsmouth's 1970's traffic scheme.

2007-08-27 15:29:24, Hazel

Hey you guys are doing really well at the moment, keep it up if you need more people send me a email and i can get a team to ya x

2007-08-27 15:06:15, R Hayball

This road will destroy some beautiful and important countryside. If people CHOOSE to use the road to commute to where they CHOOSE to work then they should either be prepared to sit in traffic sometimes, or GET THE TRAIN!!

2007-08-27 12:28:11, Lucy Baird

This is yet another disgusting capatalist vein on our disappearing beautiful countryside, i support you in your protest

2007-08-24 00:07:00, Sam Worrall

tell me when you want the crew to set up camp, we'll be there

2007-08-24 00:05:12, Sarah Butterworth

going through prime walking ground

2007-08-23 16:30:15, David N. DeVries

I live in Ithaca, New York and have watched as our region has been criss-crossed (read scarred) by multi-lane roadways designed, so we have been promised, to alleviate traffic. Of course, all that has happened is that we have fewer trees, more congestion than ever, and worsening pollution of the water, the air, and the land. Save your rural landscapes!

2007-08-23 15:57:36, Rosemarie Morgan

Once England's heritage of ancient woodlands and pristine countryside has gone it will never be recovered. Planners --- THINK about the future as bit by bit this green and pleasant land gradually become an urban strip of intersecting roadways, a tarmacadamed landscape, a concrete jungle. THINK hard!

2007-08-21 18:23:06, richard thimbleby

2007-08-21 09:53:12, Shane

2007-08-17 14:33:32, Roger

I can't see how this road is going to bring any relief as its bypassing nothing, just moving a single carriageway to the left so where's the relief? Why don't they improve the Littlemoor road junction by widening it and creating aroundabout, afterall that's the only change I can see from the current road. I travel along this road every day on my return from work and yes a normal 10-15 minute delay is incurred on the Dorchester road solely because of the Littlemoor lights and the unnecessary traffic on the road. I believe that the Weymouth turning on the Dorchester bypass is as big a congestion cause and needs addressing. Weymouth is always going to cause a 'funnel effect' no matter roads are built leading into it.

2007-08-16 23:06:16, Alan Whetton

Not only am I so utterly tired of the political bullies here in the U.S. but also reading and seeing in the media of how absolutely bloody pathetic the British politians follow. Sadly nobody seems to care in this day and age..I'm a L.O.N.G. way from Dorset but I am behind you 100%.

2007-08-16 14:14:21, Malcolm Ogilvie

Up until 20 years ago, I used to drive this road regularly and, while it had some traffic congestion problems in the summer months, I am definitely not convinced that this proposal is the solution, particularly in view of the environmental and scenic damage it will cause.

2007-08-16 00:04:33, Peter Neal

2007-08-14 17:58:14, Allan E. Cook

2007-08-13 15:12:06, rm purcell

The arguments against have impressed me

2007-07-31 21:02:08, Jerry Diccox

I support you 100%. I am angry that this highly destructive road looks set to go ahead. Lazy and stupid commuters get out of your cars and use the bloody train ! Dorchester and Weymouth have a direct train service that would be the envy of many.

2007-07-17 20:45:21, Susan Cook

It looks to me as if there are plenty of extraordinarily good alternatives to this nasty proposed road. I am at a loss to understand why the Dorset County Council seems bent on destroying such beautiful countryside unnecessarily. It is this attitude precisely that has gotten us all into this environmental stew. I completely support a swift and complete death to the idea of this ridiculous road scheme.

2007-07-10 15:17:09, Leigh Bayley

I would like as much info on how the planning application was amended by the public's concerns

2007-06-29 17:12:39, Dave Chesney

The photos show clearly that the road will go through some beautiful countryside. It will no doubt encourage long-distance commuting, with knockon effects on lots of other local roads.

2007-06-28 15:12:01, Timothy Clark

Not to call a public enquiry for what is generally seen as the most controversial road scheme of the times makes a mockery of the whole planning process. This is a despicable act of maladminstration and an act of connivance in the needless destruction of yet another part of the country. My home village was ruined by motorway building. Is it really national policy to render this part of Dorset yet another place with the landscape amenity value of gigantic toilet?

2007-06-25 23:01:31, Al

Keep up the good work. No, Mr Knight and the incredibly arrogant Dorset County Council have not got their road yet. It seems so clear to me that some relatively small adjustments to the Dorchester Road would solve this minor problem without desecrating the countryside. This could be the ruin of Weymouth - in the name of greed and stupidity.

2007-06-15 17:06:11, James Seddon

Greetings from Lancaster where we have a similar problem with Lancashire County Council trying to build a damaging and under performing £156 million lorry route from the motorway to Heysham ferry port. We have terrible local congestion but this road only brings more traffic to the area. A road should be a last resort after all alternative solutions have been tried. Good luck.

2007-06-03 18:50:53, rob luton

2007-06-02 05:49:31, David Malcolm Hunt

2007-05-26 10:42:28, Sylvia Popham

Whilst I do not live in Dorset at present Weymouth is my home town and I spend a lot of time walking in the area. In fact I have led walks, and are planning to lead a walk in September in the very area DCC want to desecrate. I strongly object to the scheme, which will only create traffic congestion at either end of the proposed route

2007-05-22 16:12:58, Mike Jones

This is crazy. We are approaching peak oil and the politicians are promoting road building when surely we should be improving other more sustainable forms of transport. This money would be better spent vastly improving the rail links to Weymouth including effective rail/bus hubs at Weymouth and Dorchester and a ferry service from the beach area near Weymouth Station to the Pavilion area and onto Portland for all visitors and commuting locals. Then encourage cycling by providing good joint cycle/footpaths and derestricting cycling from underused pedestrian areas such as along the sea wall. Promoting any car use in the current environment is shear folly by selfish dinosaurs.

2007-05-21 17:43:06, Peter Barker

2007-05-21 17:09:41, Janet Payne

Don't people understand that the more roads we build the more traffic we create? It makes road travel more appealing which in the end will increase traffic and in turn more roads/bypasses. I fully support your campaign. More roads are not the answer.

2007-05-16 20:11:33, Jessica Morris

I support your campaign and hope that you can ensure a long term commitment to the local environment is part of the Olympic development.

2007-05-16 08:08:51, jayne williams

We need all the undamaged natural environments we can get...please leave this one be.

2007-05-15 17:15:15, Pig

2007-05-14 09:11:29, Dr Nick Mee

2007-05-13 15:29:39, Steve Wilson

I think this relief road is one of the most short sighted and wasteful projects ever considered by Dorset Council. A council bereft of ideas and vision, who will do irrepairable damage to our living environment. I will support this campaign with all my energy. Good Luck!

2007-05-12 21:34:20, Hilary Barkway

2007-05-11 16:47:17, Sonja Glass

We need less road building and better public transport in this country.

2007-05-10 11:02:49, Dominic Templeman

I am strongly opposed to the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road. I regard the plans of ESCC, to destroy such an area of natural beauty, as soulless in the extreme.

2007-05-10 10:51:08, Valintino

Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

2007-05-09 13:49:04, Guy Madgwick

Bought up in nearby area (Winterbourne Abbas) Would oppose any cutting into the chalk or destruction of ancient woodland. If there is to be a road make them engineer it properly and use tunnels if needed.

2007-05-06 19:53:39, Angela Pooley

Although this is devastating blow, don't give up yet, there's still a lot of support out there.

2007-05-03 10:11:58, josh rickards

i am for the relief road, only if the plans are rethought. and that they dont ruin the natural landscape.

2007-05-03 10:09:35, Owen

This is a bad idea because the people of Littlemoor will suffer and that is really unfair on them. They have not done anything. Mr Knight is using the sailing on Portland as an excuse to build the road.

2007-05-01 14:53:02, Katherine Quinteros

2007-05-01 13:28:13, Julie White

No New Roads!

2007-04-30 22:45:50, Tom Holloway

I cannot believe that they are seriously going to build a road through such a beautiful and historically important area. Building more roads leads to more pollution and more not less congestion. What an absurdly expensive and damaging way to not address a problem. If there is anything I can do to help stop this lunacy please let me know.

2007-04-30 14:18:46, Fiona McIntosh

I don't see that this road serves any useful purpose.

2007-04-29 22:24:59, Juliet Harwood

Why is it always assumed that faster roads into Weymouth will be good for business? Roads in are also roads out. The quicker locals can get to bigger shopping centres the more often they will go, taking their custom with them.

2007-04-28 12:34:57, fox

let me now if your seting up any camps sites please , i shall come and help

2007-04-26 15:46:50, Tanya Armstrong

It is great to find a group campaigning against this road. I do not agree that it should be built (at all!) and have not been sure where to put my vote. I am glad that there are many people who feel the same as me and we need to help the environment together!

2007-04-25 09:37:18, Dominique Batifoulier

What is more important? cars, or trees and birds and peace, to travel faster or to save a lovely bit of land, not just for us but for future generations. Public transports, car sharing, cycling, walking, are the answers, not another road that would, very rapidly, make the problem of traffic even bigger.

2007-04-23 21:54:06, Jim & Diana Reddie

opposed to any more road building in this area. More roads create only an increase in traffic.

2007-04-23 16:25:13, Dr Colin Meanock

2007-04-19 15:41:09, Sam

Surely the greatest impact of the road through Lorton Meadows and the surrounding area will be the continuous rumble of traffic in what is currently a tranquil valley, where you hear only birdsong and the occassional train.

2007-04-19 14:22:45, Stephen Bunting

Everyone trusts their doctor, don't they? Dr. Guy Dickinson has been my doctor for years and I agree with what he has to say against the relief road and our chronic overuse of fossil fuels.

2007-04-18 08:46:20, Roger Taylor

The periods of congestion on the current road are relatively short. Improving the flow of traffic on the current road would be more cost effective

2007-04-13 07:13:30, Valintino

Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

2007-04-12 19:28:23, Scallywag

They say "opinions are free: facts are sacred". I feel it should be the opposite. Facts are, in modern journalism, often highly suspect. Eyewitness accounts of almost anything differ madley. But opinions should be considered sacred in any society which pretends it is free....Simon Regan. Died 8th.August 2000 after a short illness.

2007-04-09 19:16:53, oliver dickinson

2007-04-07 21:58:23, susan chapman

The UN are advising Governments to take radical steps to mitigate potential catastrophic climate change.Mr Blair seems to think we're leading the way on this issue!!!! Howabout entire schools visiting number 10 and asking him to halt road and airport expansion schemes right now.This would be a great example to the developing world .Transition towns like Falmouth,Totnes and Lewes (also Bristol city) are aiming for a more self-sufficient future.

2007-04-06 22:57:48, Graham Smith

The lights at Littlemoor are the real problem.

2007-04-05 22:33:34, steve hopkinson

Would it be possible to get the names of all the councillors that voted yes to the relief road ? so we can vote them out of office at the next election.If not lets vote the lot out anyway, they're a disgrace.

2007-04-04 21:17:28, andy

we need to be moving forwards to the future, not backwards-no more roads

2007-04-03 19:12:35, andy Gaunt

We all know the greatest cause of congestions is the lights at Littlemoor Corner. We've had enough time to think about it after all. This is where locals meet every day and hold each other up. The proposed "Icen" roundabout at Littlemoor will provide a new meeting place for almost all the same locals wanting to go in different directions. The only difference is it will have a roundabout instead of lights. If a roundabout works better than lights why don't we already have one at Littlemoor corner? Why have people and businesses put up with these lights for so long? Within months of the proposed road alongside the Fleet being ditched,Fords Roundabout magically appeared, it works beautifully. There is room for an improved roundabout at Littlemoor lights. In the meanitime The southbound congestion on the Dorchester road could be moved easily and cheaply north of Upwey. This would have a smoothing effect on traffic generally and provide a vast benefit to those living on the road between Upwey and Littlemoor corner. It is a proven traffic engineering system, called “intelligent gating and cascading queues” referred to by Professor Margaret Bell in her paper “Foresight Intelligent Infrastructure”.

2007-04-02 17:36:22, John Biddlecombe

We can't build a new road everytime it is proposed we need to put more emphasis on public transport make it more viable for people to use the bus or the train not rely on cars for every journey I say no to the relief road and so did a lot of other people when they attended the meeting at The Pavillion Thanks John: Transport2000

2007-03-27 21:14:44, Katharine Hammond

The only thing that will ever ease the traffic situation is to get people out of their cars and onto public transport or work transport schemes. PLEASE spend the money on that instead.

2007-03-27 18:45:29, Adrian Read

The proposed relief road makes no sense, all political parties in this country propose to cut greenhouse gas emissions, building more road capacity clearly goes against that edict. On a local level I think it is nothing short of vandalism, supported by people whose are lazy and whose mindset is still somewhere in the mid 80's.

2007-03-26 08:11:34, Scott Hammond

2007-03-22 23:24:55, Steve

I am sick and tired of listening to people whinging and crying about so called traffic problems on Dorchester rd."Oh my god i had a 5 min delay on my way to town this can never be lets build another road".In the name of progress and the economy they yelp.They don't care about the cost(46 to 70 millon), and they don't care about the countryside that will be destroyed.Its the covenient comfort of the beloved car that matters. There are more cars on the road today than yesterday and there will be more cars on the road tommorow than today.We need to re-educate ourselves on how we use the car and roads and how we can make public transport a realistic alternative. For the past 17 years i have lived in Portland and worked at Weymouths largest industrial estate the Granby. There is no direct Bus route between the two.If i take the bus it takes an hour, if i take the car it takes 15 min.This clearly shows that Dorset County Council don't care too much for public transport and the car is their top priority.The money spent on this Bypass would be better spent on public transport.

2007-03-21 18:40:44, Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Sue Lovett

THIS ROAD MUST NOT BE BUILT.!!!!!!

2007-03-21 14:12:32, David Peacock

Every success for your campaign. This so-called relief road is just the latest, but hopefully the last, of a long line of such proposals from the unreconstructed roadbuilding dinosaurs that dictate County Hall's transport policy.

2007-03-20 12:45:44, Ellie Kivinen

Building new roads will only encourage more people to drive, leading to more congestion. Sustainable transport solutions are needed to deal with the increase in travel demand. A by-pass is only a short-term solution, and in the long term it will lead to more problems than it resolves.

2007-03-18 22:07:20, brian woods

This road will not solve traffic problems it will just create more. It will carve up a landscape that has been safeguarded for many years.Two Mile Coppice will be badly damaged and an area regenerated oaks destroyed. Creating a Lorton Country Park will be no compensation for all this destuction.

2007-03-18 09:52:33, Tom Reed

Waste of money! why not put that money into something more useful to the community like education or health! there will always be traffic where ever you live! thats life get on with it!

2007-03-18 09:46:16, June Reed

I cannot see how the road will really make any difference to the amount of traffic travelling into Weymouth town centre. It seems a waste of countryside and money just to relieve such a short stretch of road.

2007-03-15 13:25:07, Elizabeth

For all the reasons already mentioned and as a regular visitor to Two Mile Coppice and surrounding meadows, it would be a tragic loss to lose any of this beautiful area.

2007-03-15 13:10:33, Patricia

How sad to lose an area of such great beauty.

2007-03-13 08:29:45, Barbara Perry

2007-03-12 19:32:23, Jolyon Lomax

This proposal is a poor use of resources and is like a pipe with a constriction. Even fitting a larger pipe will still result in the same flow ( traffic). This will just zoom the people to the next pinch point without really delivering them to where they want to be. There must be alternative proposals with regard to improving traffic flow by redesigning road juctions and flow patterns.

2007-03-11 17:30:13, Tony King

There is a traffic problem in Weymouth, that is undeniable, getting more cars and bigger lorries into the town quicker is not a sensible solution. The relief road will cause more problems, even the logistics of building it will cause impossible delays and congestion on the exsisting system. Is the idea is to make a route for heavy comercial traffic to a portland harbour container port or some other hair brained scheme sold to our naive council?

2007-03-11 16:17:57, Kate Russell

I agree. NO more roads!!

2007-03-11 11:25:32, Juliet Murray

Our countryside needs protecting. Why destroy a beautiful part of it - once lost it is gone for ever. In addition, there is a much wider issue about car usage and global warming. Much better to use the money to build the public transport infrastructure.

2007-03-10 19:54:16, Jenny Leech

2007-03-10 17:50:13, Roger Fells

We are not alone.

2007-03-09 07:29:22, steve hopkinson

2007-03-08 19:27:36, N.Cranny

It will just move the congestion from Dorchester Road to the Relief Road. So what will happen once the Relief Road is congested? Another Relief Road? Subsidise public transport and get people out of thier cars.

2007-03-08 11:04:19, Geoff Watts

I note that the increasingly desperate and myopic supporters of this bypass to nowhere are still claiming that local opposition does not exist and that it's only 'outside pressure groups' that are causing all the trouble! At the recent meeting in the Ocean Room I was approached by a 'Relief (sic) Road' supporter from the 'top table' who was clearly furious that there was so much opposition being expressed, especially in view of the media presence no doubt! His red face and aggressive demeanor convinced me that he knew, what the officials in the planning departments have known for a very long time; that if this plan goes to public inquiry the raft of misinformation that has been the mainstay of its supporters will not survive scrutiny. It is therefore VERY important that everyone with the ability to see further than the front of a car bonnet continues to publicly express their opposition and ensure that this plan is called in.

2007-03-07 08:43:00, Peter Moth

Bring on the light rail!

2007-03-06 22:09:04, Elaine Howard

The more roads built, the more cars there will be.

2007-03-06 18:22:49, Andrew Woodcock

2007-03-06 14:09:32, Simon Watson

Yet another example of development for the sake of it. As others have observed, this will make a tiny difference to most journeys, so small in fact that five years after the event no-one will notice any improvement at all (I expect we'll all notice significant disruption while the thing is being built, however). So for a very short term gain, we'll destroy some of the local countryside, and we won't get that back, whatever "landscaping" / environmental amelioration is associated with the build (and what will be the first thing to be ditched when the budget is overrun and the timescales slipping?) I find it difficult to believe that the possible 10 minutes improvement in journey time (and I'm not convinced you'll get that in most cases) will make any economic difference to anyone. As others have noted, this will probably just move the queues elsewhere. But even if there is a reasonable improvement in traffic flow for a noticeable length of time,is this really a sane thing to be doing in view of all we know about what is happening all around us. Ironic if in fifty years time there is no Weymouth to relieve, due to rising sea levels... How about spending the money on subsidising bus fares, getting buses to cover a greater area, getting joined up cycle lanes that go somewhere instead of petering out and dumping cyclists on the wrong side of busy roundabouts/roads.

2007-03-06 12:07:52, david moth

Thanks to everyone who is supporting us. We have tried to build a case based on logic and accurate scientific method to show the awful consequences of building this road. I think we have shown there is considerable local objection to the road and this should be taken into account at the planning application meeting. Thanks again.

2007-03-06 11:22:57, Helen

"Traffic jams" on the Dorchester Road? Are they kidding? Those aren't traffic jams - they're minor delays! When you've lived in London for over 20 years then you'll know what traffic jams are! It used to take me as long to travel between Hackney and Central London as it did to fly to Paris. The environmental lobby is right - there is absolutely no justification for the destruction of precious ancient woodland and other areas of outstanding natural beauty to build a bypass merely to shave 10 minutes off the so-called "rush hour" journey of a bunch of whingers - most of whom could be car-sharing or cycling anyway. Will help if needed and if I can spare the time - spent a few years working at Friends of the Earth head office - so have a little experience of this area! (and there's nothing wrong with hugging trees!)

2007-03-05 21:17:42, Douglas Stem

In this age of increasing traffic and global warming we should be looking at more creative ways of dealing with a problem than destroying our green space. The main bottlenecks on the Dorchester road occur during rush hours am and pm, the road runs freely most of the rest of the day. Public transport is poorly used between the 2 towns with a significant amount of traffic generated by employees of Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council. In summertime long queues are generated by tourists with little use of Weymouth's park and ride scheme. Do we really want to funnel more cars into an already overcongested small space. Don't give in to the economic blackmail, I don't see a failing town, bypass the bypass.

2007-03-05 11:55:36, Dave

May I offer my support. I too have been registering objections for years. Many of those with whom I work are also against the road - and many are indifferent - So I have little regard for the Echo's claims and publicity pro-road campaigns. In fact, I no longer buy it. To my shame. I once voted for Knight. (But only because the opposition was even worse). I have since learned to see the ex-Frome Town Councillor prior to being 'planted' in Weymouth for the opportunist that he is. If you look at his website diary (http://www.jimknightmp.com/cutenews/diary.php?subaction=showfull&id=1141637703&archive=1142713269&ucat=) for March 2006, he waxes lyrical about the need to urgently address climate change. Total hypocrite! (As usual much of what he states on the subject is plagarised from the likes of David Miliband).

2007-03-04 18:58:15, Rosemary Hardwicke

How pleased I am to read that so many people feel as I do! For years I've been saying "we have a quick railway connection between the two towns, use it - often!" I felt so strongly I even went to speak to Jim Knight and got nowhere but was blinded with facts and figures why it would not be possible to improve the track and run a regular shuttle service between the 2 towns - and beyond. I was not convinced. We are told by our government, to use the car less and the immediate answer to too much road traffic is to build more roads. I find it amazing! When I was at school here in the 50s many children came up to Dorchester from Weymouth to attend either Hardyes or the Green School. They came by train and WALKED from the station. In those days there was a halt at Radipole (am I right in thinking there was one at Monkton too?) Lots of cheap (or free) public transport is the only answer to the car problem I believe.

2007-03-04 14:43:02, Jill and tTony Flux

We believe that as there is no 'follow throgh' once traffic arrives at Westway Rd, the current congestion will simply be translocated. The first and simplest traffic softening measure would be to place a mini-roundabout at Littlemoor junction. The next straightforward assistance would be to provide mini coach transport for CC and NHS workers each weekday between the two towns. We are also concerned (as you point out) that the archaeological context of the Ridgeway will be further comprimised if a second 'gash' is cut through Bincombe hill. The area is already registered as an AONB and Natural England have been very cautious in their comments as there is likely to be serious damage to flora and fauna and the landscape character if the road is built.

2007-03-04 13:52:33, Julie Ellis

Thankyou David for getting things moving. The bypass has been "pie in the sky" for many years while cheaper, more immediate measures are not being considered. One begins to suspect that this is being actively avoided for fear of weakening the grounds for the new road.

2007-03-03 22:53:16, Mark Ellis

Many thanks to David Moth for his efforts in providing this valuable forum, and for having the courage to speak out against the building of this road, and thanks also to the many people who attended the meeting at the Pavilion for their clear and cogent arguments opposing this project. The proposed relief road will deliver traffic into Weymouth town centre with ruthless efficiency. Where does it go then? Weymouth will be gridlocked, and the only benefit will be for traffic leaving the town. Is it really so difficult to see that spending £77 million on this folly will only succeed in shifting a traffic jam closer to Weymouth town centre? As for the scale and visual impact of this road at the Ridgeway, Lower Bincombe, Icen Lane and Littlemoor roundabout, what on earth were the planners thinking of? We are privileged to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, and I for one would like it to stay that way. Unfortunately, many supporters of this road don't seem to see this. Once built, it will be a permanent eyesore, and this part of Weymouth will begin to resemble a suburb of Poole or Bournemouth, with the inevitability of further building development along its route. Sadly, it seems that anyone opposing this road on environmental grounds is branded a 'tree hugger' which seems to be the standard response of many of the pro-bypass lobby, and indicative of the poor standard of comment and debate on this crucial issue from that quarter.

2007-03-03 22:36:13, Jonathan Bennett

A low cost redesign of the Dorchester Road - Littlemoor Road junction must be the single best value option to reduce delays without the environmental impact of the County proposals.

2007-03-03 21:21:07, Harry Gow

The bypass will ONLY be of benefit to the residents of Dorchester Road.The queues will now be moved along towards the Granby. A big price to pay for the distruction of prime countryside. It must not happen.

2007-03-03 17:11:40, Andree Proschel

The proposed bypass is too destructive in proportion to the more than questionable return. There will be gridlock in Weymouth. I was born here and have seen the gradual destruction of this once beautiful area. This is not a metropolis.

2007-03-03 17:00:52, Harald Proschel

Small business should not be allowed to destroy valuable environment.

2007-03-03 16:46:37, Sue Ross-Mackenzie

I chose to live in where I do because it offered me everything I was looking for including peaceful surroundings. I presume that when the residents of Dorchester Road CHOSE to live where they do they were aware that it was a main road into Weymouth and were also aware of the noise level. Why are they now complaining of noise and pollution? Surely there are solutions to be found such as asking employers on the Granby to stagger their working hours so that they don't all leave at the same time or constructing a roundabout where the Littlemoor lights are now or changing the pelican crossings for foot bridges all at a fraction of the cost. Don't the planners realise that Weymouth can only take so much traffic before it starts to back up so their new road will only be a faster route to a traffic jam? Do they also really believe that holiday-makers will want to use the park & ride at Morrisons? Imagine having to unload everything required for a day on the beach plus the kids travelling on a bus and having to do the reverse at the end of the day. They will still want to park as close to the beach as they can and the carpark will remain empty. Another waste of money! I really hope this campaign is successful and keeps this blot off our beautiful countryside!

2007-03-02 20:31:59, Mary Watts

I was horrified when the plans were published to see the terrible damage to the environment that this plan will cause. Having read the environmental impact assessment I am even more convinced that the end does not justify the means. There are many alternative measures that would reduce the traffic congestion at peak times but the planners do not seem interested in them. In the end this road only goes to Weymouth. It is not a ‘relief ‘road in any sense of the word and in the long term can only make matters worse. My sister lives in Brambling Close and is one of the many unfortunate people who live in the area that will be directly and adversely affected. Her relatively quiet cul-de-sac and the fields that she often walks in will be changed forever. She will have no option but to move! I have lived and worked in Weymouth and Portland all my life and do not want to see the area ruined. To spend so much public money doing so much damage is absolutely disgraceful!

2007-03-02 19:37:22, Heather

Friday 2nd March coming home from work from Portland to Littlemoor area at 4.30pm. Wessex radio reports Dorchester Road unusually busy. Yes, I have to queue from halfway down Wessex Way. Begin queuing at 4.34, turn at Littlemoor lights at 4.41 - less than 10 minutes in a traffic jam - hardly worth building a relief road for!

2007-03-02 19:29:24, chris newman

i really support the clearly presented and well informed alternatives that you have outlined, that are sensible and feasible.

2007-03-02 15:21:00, Polly dinwoodie

It's about time that proper park & ride facilities were put in place. The so called by pass will not only damage beyond bellief the best ancient woodland in the county , but also generate more trafic with nowhere to go!

2007-03-02 13:07:08, nancy Sheppard

Thanks for having this web-site. The echo is so strongly in favour of the bypass that a lot of the general public presume that everyone wants it and are unaware of the adverse consequences. I am against it for environmental reasons and also because new roads generate more traffic in the long run.

2007-03-02 11:04:08, A H Dixon

This road is a 'Littlemoor Corner' bypass. Holdups caused by weight of traffic are almost non-existent elsewhere on Dorchester Road. Sort out that junction and the whole situation goes away. Putting aside questions of necessity environmental impact etc and concentrating on Weymouth - this being a Weymouth 'relief' road - what will the effect of this road be? Will it provide the 'relief' promised? No. It is entirely possible, in fact, that it will cause MORE congestion but elsewhere. If the road does its job, traffic will find itself arriving quicker, and, therefore, in greater density, at the Manor roundabout. Assuming that the existing bypass can cope with this increase traffic, what happens? Well, most of the traffic hits the Westham Bridge roundabout. As nearly everyone in Weymouth is aware, from this roundabout onwards - most notably King Street - is a traffic nightmare. So what we now have, as a result of the new, highly efficient 'relief' road is a large volume of traffic being dumped at the Westham Bridge roundabout with nowhere to go. Clearly the proposed road is not a solution. If we MUST have a 'relief' road - and I don't believe one is necessary - and all its associated damaging impact the solution is (from memory and quite likely entirely wrong) the Purple Route. This, I believe, was designed to take Portland traffic entirely around Weymouth. I have insufficient information and time to ponder this more. Well done to this site's creators.

2007-03-02 10:55:53, R. Fox

Thank you for highlighting that there is indeed local opposition to the bypass.

2007-03-02 09:01:07, Simon Watson

2007-03-02 08:35:41, Mel

2007-03-02 08:25:05, Sheila Rodney

2007-03-02 08:08:23, Astrid Tipney

More and more traffic is coming on to the road system because we are lazy, so although new roads may ease traffic for a short time, in the longer term they fill up and all we gain as well as the accompanying traffic and pollution, is more tarmac. The 'bribe' of a few new acres for a 'nature reserve' can do nothing to redress the loss of ancient woodland at Two Mile Coppice. The money should go towards improving public and freight transport systems. If people are inconvenienced enough by traffic jams and there is a decent alternative, they may just leave the cars at home.

2007-03-02 06:47:39, Vincent Stops

Well done

2007-03-01 23:56:20, Stuart Morris

I SUPPORT the road. This whole site misrepresents the position, especially on pollution, and economic benefits to everybody in the area. It grossly exaggerates the environmental costs, ignors the creation of new richly diverse landscaping and underplays the countless benefits. It is nonsense to say the congestion will move into town. King Street and the Esplanade will have ALL main road traffic removed, and NO extra traffic will arrive at Westham Bridge. Roll on the Relief!! It is also vital for the future of Portland and Chickerell.

2007-03-01 23:09:54, Len Collins

Congratulations on the launch of your new website. I have been objecting to the proposed road for years. Anyone who knows the road can see that except for accidents and road works any hold-ups are only during the so called school run and for a few weeks at the height of the summer. A total waste of money, and a blight on the environment. I am very disappointed that it is being promoted by a socialist MP and county councillor.

2007-03-01 22:02:20, Lorton Lane Resident

Just another scheme for developers to make money, fields in the Lorton Lane area will get planning for more houses if the road goes ahead. It will also not improve the traffic flow, hold ups are only in the summer for a few weeks and at rush hours, (like anywhere else)

2007-03-01 21:24:39, John and Lorraine Wilkerson

Congratulations from two more local residents on your comprehensive case against this proposed piece of environmental folly.

2007-03-01 21:22:46, M. Gallagher

I have written to Dorset County Council objecting to this waste of public money for the benefit of a relatively small number of people. It would be better spent improving trunk roads to the M5

2007-03-01 21:10:13, Steve Howard

Replacing one single carriageway road with another single carriageway road will not improve anything - except the property prices on the existing! Spend a few thousand pounds replacing the Littlemoor traffic lights with a roundabout to improve traffic flow, then use the rest of the £70+ Million to improve the rail links between Weymouth & Yeovil - a regular shuttle, stopping at the re-opened existing halts, could ferry the majority of hospital & council workers who live in Weymouth to & from work in Dorchester, taking away much of the rush hour traffic. Keep the pressure on. This road must not be built.

2007-03-01 20:21:42, Fiona

Hi I really support this and am pleased to see it. I have three children and live along the route of the road and am really concerned about the increased pollution to their health. Also the destruction of the woodland has to be a cause of concern particularly when it will only lead to a bottleneck of traffic by Morrison's roundabout!!!

2007-03-01 20:16:54, Donald Bindon

North Sea oil will be down to a trickle, within ten years. Terms of trade with India and China will change, reducing British consumption of consumer durables. They may well be less cars on our roads in years to come. If this road is built it will funnel traffic to enormous congestion in the centre of Weymouth. Many roads in Dorchester are badly needing repair. If this road is built, maintenance will be a huge extra burden on future generations.

2007-03-01 20:15:57, Simon

2007-03-01 20:14:38, Paul Kingman

2007-03-01 19:44:04, Martin Howe

Quite unnecessary destruction of habitat. As an alternative a small proportion of the cost could be spent upgrading the existing road and improving public transport. Light railway?

2007-03-01 19:41:20, Joanne Phin

I do not support the bypass and have written letters to the council to express my views. I get annoyed by the constant positive press being expressed in the echo, including Jim Knights views, and very little gets published about those local people who do not want the bypass. Glad to see your article and the web site

2007-03-01 19:26:26, Mike Shorter

Glad someone else cares

2007-03-01 19:23:01, Mr & Mrs M Summers

This will not help at all. it will just move the bottleneck down to Westem bridge.

2007-03-01 19:18:46, Boots Coman

Jim Knight asks his supporters to support the road. He won't even ballot his supporters. The only problem with the Dorchester road is the littlemoor juntion.

2007-03-01 19:18:41, sheila ryan

We are talking about roads that are crowded at rush hours and during tourist season. There are so many more life enhancing ways to respond to these challenges than to create yet another set of jams and bottle necks on yet another road which only encourages us all to think it is reasonable to drive about everywhere and often by ourselves. Tourists want to slow down - they are on holiday - and can use park and ride and public transport for example. Rush hours can be mitigated by flexable working times and other inititiatives We can all be encouraged to walk to school rather than drive short distances. Is the bigger issue of global warming not a concern for us too? Why not even consider restoration of the historic and scenic rail route between Portland and Weymouth instead of the 2nd phase of the road?

2007-03-01 18:26:43, Mary

I use Dorchester Road daily at differing times of the day. Yes, there are delays between 7.30 and 8.30am - usually know as 'rush hour!' No different, and indeed a lot better than other towns I have lived in. If you live in beautiful place like Weymouth the price you pay is increased traffic from tourists. However, a simple solution to this would be to provide park and ride OUTSIDE

2007-03-01 18:22:40, Harold

2007-03-01 18:20:09, Kate Verkooijen

This road is un-necessary to relieve the traffic delays that occur. As well as all the reasons given on this website, I would add: a) when the lights are out at the Littlemoor junction, the traffic flows freely and no holdups occur b) practically all the delays on the Dorchester Road mid-morning happen because the delivery van for the Broadway stores is allowed to park right outside the shop (in the narrowest part of Dorchester Road), so that traffic builds up each side -sometimes right back over the Ridgeway for southbound traffic. If the delivery van was required to park just inside the road immediately north of the stores (where there is space which could be reserved for this) none of this delay would happen. c) claims are made that the bypass would stop people's homes being polluted by traffic fumes, noise, etc. However, building the bypass wouild just shift this pollution from Dorchester Road onto the (lower soci-economic) population of Littlemoor. If there is the expection that traffic volumes would increase on the bypass then the pollution the Littlemoor folk would suffer would be far worse.

2007-03-01 18:19:37, John Benson

At last a challenge to the notion that all locals support the idea of a relief road. I was delighted to see the front page of The Echo today. I had started to believe that the paper was part of the campaign in favour of the road. I am convinced that building this road will make little or no difference to Weymouth's traffic problems most of which seem to be self inflicted wounds. On most days of the year and at most times of day the traffic on Dorchester Road flows at or slightly above the speed limit. With the exception of weekends during the summer holidays most of the traffic jams on Dorchester Road are caused by the incessant road works that take place. These seem to be carried out without any kind of planning or coordination. The road can be resurfaced and then sections ripped up again a couple of weeks later for some other purpose. They always seem to be in progress at peek traffic times but not a quieter times, never at night for example. It's not uncommon for there to be roadworks on Dorchester Road and Preston Road at the same time. A bit more coordination and planning in this area would do far more good than building another road and would certainly be a lot cheaper. As for the holiday traffic; this only effects us for 6-8 weeks of the year and given that it regularly causes traffic jams on the A35 Dorchester bypass I can't really see that a new road into Weymouth is going to prevent jams. It's also time people realised that if we all jump into our cars and take to the road at the same time then taffic will be slow. In this respect Weymouth's position is no different than that of any other town in the country. Keep up the good work. You have my full support.

2007-03-01 18:19:31, Heather

Completely against any relief roads being built - mainly because they will not provide 'relief' just move the traffic elsewhere. Relief must come in the form of alternative methods of transport to the car - we need to encourage less car use not more! One particular area that would help is affordable train travel to local areas, I hate driving but am forced into my car for journeys to Poole etc because of the prohibitive cost of train fares - even with a railcard! Take note Jim Knight!

2007-03-01 17:46:52, Geoff Watts

When I saw the front page of today's Dorset Echo announcing the setting up of a group opposing the so called Weymouth Relief Road I was overjoyed. Thank goodness there is now a public platform via this website for the many thousands of local residents who are against this project to express their views - well done!

2007-03-01 17:42:56, anette rowley

2007-03-01 17:19:07, East Dorset FOE

We're with you all the way and will help in any way we can.

2007-03-01 16:52:53, Fiona Childs

I previously lived in littlemoor(until Oct 06) and was opposed to the road then and I still am now for the fundamental reason that building this road will not resolve transport problems in Weymouth and Portland. It will destroy a beautiful part of Dorset for little or no gain. This project has been railroaded from the start and the powers that be have not listened to the powerful arguments against the proposal.

2007-03-01 15:58:52, Dinah Ellis

Vehicles face delays on country roads travelling anywhere in Dorset, so the Upwey & Broadwey bypass will do nothing to encourage businesses that rely on freight to locate here. We are at the end of the line geographically, & should treasure & promote the qualities that attract visitors supporting our leisure & tourism industry. I too have spent lots of time in queues on Dorchester Rd, just as I have on the outskirts of Bournemouth, Exeter, Torquay, Bristol etc.. Congested approach roads are not unique to Weymouth, unlike the beautiful Ridgeway & folds of the hills at Bincombe. The money this venture will cost us (& our children) would be better spent on the railway line, with halts reopened at Radipole and the Ridgeway - imagine all those cars off the road, as children travelled to school by train, with a healthy little walk at either end of their journey! Oh for some courageous campaigners to stand up and promote sustainable 21st century solutions to this "problem". Keep up the good work!

2007-03-01 14:23:38, Edward McBride

We are strongly against this Weymouth bypass,it will do little to resolve the traffic situation in the Borough. My wife and I believe the solution is improving the road network already in place, it can be done and it should be done.

2007-03-01 13:35:49, stockwell

Do not for one moment think that this so-called 'relief' road has full local support. Just because the road supporters have recently become extremely vocal (and increasingly vitriolic) this does not mean that they are in the majority. Of course Jim Knight will try and portray objection to the road as being outside interference, but, as his existence as MP for this area probably hinges on the construction of this road, he would say that wouldn't he. I've been following this road debate for over 20 years, and I suggest that locals are split pretty equally in their objection/support of the construction of the Orange Route. To say that there is overwhelming support for a 'relief road' is not true.

2007-03-01 13:03:19, Scallywag

Dorset County Council, cutting back on care for the elderly because of lack of cash, wanting to close public libraries because of lack of cash. But money can be found to decrease travel times by a few minutes and increase property prices along Dorchester and Preston Road. More roads = more cars = more roads and on and on and...

2007-03-01 12:11:13, Steve Christmas

Fully supportive of your campaign. About time we heard some sense on this proposal.