Richard Price, as chair of the Wyke Regis Protection Society has done, and continues to do, an immense amount of good for the residents of Wyke.

But, along with other prominent local citizens, he is wrong to oppose the Western Route Relief Road (Echo, Oct 3).

He states: “We believe the Western Route would do terrible damage to the environment.”

Exactly the words voiced by those who opposed the building of the Weymouth Way, alongside the swannery, and the relief road around Upwey and Broadwey.

As a lifetime resident of Weymouth for over 70 years, I see a vast improvement to travelling in and out of the town. I cannot see any signs of “terrible damage to the environment”.

Surely the building of these roads has enhanced the lives of far more people than were inconvenienced?

The benefits to Weymouth and Portland of laying down a 3km strip of tarmac from Chickerell to Ferrybridge will far outweigh those brought about by the Weymouth Relief Road.

Among the many benefits building the Western Relief Road will bring will be the regeneration of one of the largest man-made harbours on the planet.

This in turn will create good quality full-time employment, something that Weymouth and Portland desperately needs alongside the temporary jobs the summer season offers.

It will improve the lives of those who live, work or own businesses along the present routes, and remove the constant bottlenecks which plague commuting traffic through Weymouth.

The people who constantly oppose every attempt to bring Weymouth and Portland’s infrastructure into the 21st century should remember that the comfortable homes they reside in were built over land that was an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

They should give some thought to the generation coming along behind them who will also like to live as they do now.

Rodney Best, Doncaster Road, Weymouth