The ‘disarray’ (Gazette, December 6, ‘New auction mart hits crisis’) concerning the protracted delays in opening the auction mart near Junction 36 of the M6 at Preston Patrick is distressing to stock farmers.

But the delays may also cause problems to motorists using the A6070, which provides access to the mart.

As both the district and county councillor for the area, perpetually concerned with highways issues, I with long-serving parish councillors successfully campaigned for a roundabout to be installed at the entrance to the auction mart to ease the approach for large cattle wagons and slow-moving tractors and trailers.

The roundabout would also improve access to the Moss End business centre on the other side of the road which, if proposals for the development of the ‘M6 corridor’ are implemented, could expand further.

Without it, traffic jams are likely to occur at peak periods for commuters, especially those from Burton and Holme as the morning rush hour coincides with the busy time for the mart.

Regrettably, the roundabout has not been provided, although I would have thought it should have been one of the first highway improvements to be carried out.

I have now heard, that even if the auction mart opens in the New Year, that the roundabout will not be made ‘for 12 months or longer’ when the necessary road works will cause extra problems.

I have, therefore, urged the planning development and highways departments to insist that the roundabout be installed as soon as possible without, however, causing a further postponement in the opening of the auction mart.

Roger Bingham, Ackenthwaite