Tim East's response to me on the NDR ('Clarifying the orange route', 11 January 2005) is utterly inadequate and clarifies nothing. Mr East, Costessey County Councillor, is simply not telling the truth about the modified orange route. The modified orange route passes mostly through woodland and farmland; only a tiny fraction of it passes through an old gravel pit.

More important still, Mr East has not responded to the central point in my 'Soapbox' piece (5 January): that the County Council's Environmental Impact Assessment of the orange route says it would have a 'large adverse impact' on ecosystems in the area it passes through. 'Large adverse impact' is the worst category available!

Why won't Councillor East come clean about the orange route? Why won't he even discuss the devastating Environmental Impact Assessment?

We want answers and issue this challenge to Tim East: debate with us in public your claims about the NDR, at a place and time of your choosing. If you still stand by your claims, then let's have it out, at a public meeting.

Yours sincerely,