THE letter 'Let's leave our countryside as it is' (Echo, May 5) has prompted me to write.

A recent Echo article outlined a number of positive ideas to bring much-needed amenities to Crossways to benefit the fast expanding population in this popular village.

It does, however, continue to suffer under the ever- increasing weight of HGV traffic shuttling to and fro.

These HGVs collect aggregates, deliver to recycling plants, tip waste and drop off materials for landfill.

At times it can seem that the village is being carved apart and worn down by this continuous and monotonous heavy traffic which brings with it dust, debris, noise and many other pollutants.

Warmwell Road, Redbridge Road, Moreton Road and the Link Road are witnesses to this.

Up until recently though it wasn't all doom and gloom as we heard talks of extra amenities coming, we were pleased to see our new school getting well established, a promise of a church and our own sports facilities that, when in place, will be the envy of many.

Then came the crunch - a sawmill! Talk about a bombshell - a planning application to build a sawmill in Redbridge Lane; a narrow, winding and pretty country lane enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, horseriders and joggers alike.

Enjoyment is gained through the peace and tranquillity it offers away from the HGV hurly burly that the village generally suffers from.

I've looked closely at the planning application for this development, from a company based in West Sussex. In my opinion their prediction of the number of HGVs likely to use the lane and, thereby, all surrounding roads has been well under-stated.

I base this on having visited and observed their operations at their sawmill near Midhurst. I estimate that this development, if allowed to go through (heaven forbid) will bring a further 250 HGV movements per week into Crossways and all of it funnelling down to a narrow unclassified and, up until now, unspoilt country lane.

If the people of Crossways want to continue to enjoy what the village has to offer them now and what promises to come their way in the future then they must not become complacent.

They need to speak up now against this unwelcome and unwanted planning application before its too late. Before we all become completely enveloped in dust and our voices unheard above the din of HGVs.

Keith Richards, Redbridge Lane, Crossways.