IT constantly amazes me how England can so easily forgive debts throughout the African countries amounting to billions of pounds. It constantly amazes me how it also can spend billions on the unwarranted war in Iraq - and yet it cannot afford a few paltry pounds to create a by-pass the make the lives of the Shipton-by-Beningbrough villagers a little more serene ("Fresh blow to bypass hopes," June 13).

I am afraid the USA is no different as we have similar problems over here. I add this only to show that you are "not alone".

Harold Walker,

Beacon Street,

South Yarmouth,

Massachusetts, USA.

Updated: 11:12 Tuesday, June 14, 2005