Sir – I was appalled to read in the Witney Gazette last week that 70 from a total of 532 vehicles travelling through Brize Norton on Station Road and Carterton Road, and in Shilton Road, Carterton, were caught speeding by police.

This was between 7.15am and 9am and one motorist was clocked at 50mph in a 30mph zone.

Although this was not during school term time, it is indicative of the selfish and dangerous way drivers use Brize Norton as a rat-run to Bampton, to join the A420 at Buckland.

During term-time children will be making their way to our excellent village school at this time of day.

Unfortunately, this is not the only time drivers speed through the village trying to escape the dreaded A40 on their way into Oxford.

I cannot imagine why West Oxfordshire District Council considers building 700 new homes in the Parish of Brize Norton when the infrastructure cannot cope with the traffic as it is.

There is no employment in the area and an influx of new residents will make Brize Norton an even more dangerous place to live.

Diana Homer, Station Road, Brize Norton