62. 85, 118... The next number in the sequence is unclear but likely to be much higher.

What am I talking about? Well, in 2001 it was predicted that the Heysham to M6 Northern link road would cost £62 million. In 2004 the prediction rose to £85 million and the latest figure is £118 million.

This represents more than £100 for every man, woman and child in the county of Lancashire, and as everyone knows the real figure will be much higher.

These figures are essentially based around construction costs for the road. If I included other costs like the loss of farmland, the loss of trees, the noise and the visual impact (its way up in the air in places), then I shudder to think what the real cost is.

The upside of all this is that we will still be stuck in our cars between Morecambe and Lancaster but at least we'll have cars in front of and behind us instead of lorries.

It can't be sensible to spend such a large amount of our money and create such a visual eyesore so that two per cent of the traffic can benefit.

There's an opportunity to see the road today (Wednesday) between 2pm and 8pm at Torrisholme Methodist Church, where Lancashire County Council will be exhibiting amended plans. Go along and see the monster before it is uncaged.

A.Hutchinson, Lancaster.