HAS anyone thought of involving the Ministry of Defence in the A40 debate?

The line of the disused Oxford to Fairford railway runs right up to the south-eastern corner of RAF Brize Norton, the biggest RAF base in the country and the portal through which much of our humanitarian aid and disaster rescue missions are transported across the world and military operations abroad are supported. However, the road links to the A40 are closer to being lanes than highways, and the A40 itself, even under normal conditions, is the problem of which we all are now aware and will intensify with the anticipated expansion of Carterton and West Witney, not to mention the imminent installation of a roundabout at the planned A40/Downs Road interchange. Can one imagine the effect of a national emergency? Tank transporters at the Eynsham roundabout?

Today's Letters

The Government has invested very large sums of money in the base itself and acquired enormously expensive fleets of new aircraft. It is particularly proud of its overseas aid efforts, which the Prime Minister places very high among his declared priorities. Might they not look kindly on the restoration of the railway as an item of infrastructure that served both military and civilian needs?

PETER SALWAY

Main Road,

Stanton Harcourt,

Witney