I learnt yesterday with some consternation that the rumours that the Forestry Commission have entered into negotiations with a developer about a Western by-pass scheme for Bourne which would encroach into Bourne Wood have been confirmed by the Commission.

I have today written to Mr Paul Hill-Tout, Director of the Forestry Commission for England, asking to see the plans and requesting a meeting to discuss them.

Of course Bourne needs a North-South bypass. I have said so for many years and – in vain – lobbied the District Council many years ago to make development on the eastern side of the town conditional on such a by-pass being constructed to the east. I continue to believe that a by-pass to the east is feasible.

In twenty wonderful years as Bourne’s MP I have had many requests to take up personal cases, or causes in the interest of the town as a whole. I have always tried to be as helpful as I could.

In all this time no one has ever approached me to say that what the town needed was a base for gypsies or “travellers”.

My initial reaction when I heard that S.K.D.C. was proposing this was disbelief. There are so many useful things that public money might be spent on. And so strong a case for economy to keep the Council Tax down (a matter on which I think that our District Council – and let me be quite fair to a party of which I am no longer a member – has a very good and commendable record.) Why spend money on something for which there is no demand?