RECENTLY, I had a dream concerning Hereford in about the year 2015.

An extraordinary meeting of the council has been called to address the colossal crises the city has been experiencing: the traffic is effectively grid-locked for much of the day; there are so many food stores half the inhabitants are regarded as obese; flooding causes such immense problems the fire brigade has to position appliances south of the river with increasing frequency; the former industrial sites at Rotherwas (abandoned due to access problems) have been called 'eyesores' and need regeneration; and the football club needs to move outside the city, with a new rail link, as its recent Premiership status ensures that home games disrupt the whole city.

After only a few minutes of discussion it becomes obvious the 'old guard' will demand limitless funds to be spent on a huge array of consultative issues before 'meaningful solutions' may even be contemplated in forthcoming years.

At this point, a group of new councillors with pioneering ideas assume control of the entire council under the new government's Radical Initiative Act, which permits takeovers of local government to guarantee Britain does not grind to a complete halt (which is now a chronic and recurring problem requiring drastic action).

The new group (with government backing) advance proposals for bypass roads that provide north-south and east-west dual carriageways around Hereford, with access roads to Rotherwas and numerous other industrial sites, which provide appealing incentives for businesses to relocate with advantageous benefits to do so, as so many jobs have been lost in the city due to decades of neglect and feeble local management.

Work begins immediately and progress is rapid.

In the blink of an eye, Hereford has the road system dreamed of for over 40 years and the whole city is now bustling and thriving with more contented and stress free faces than anyone can ever recollect.

Yes, an exceedingly breathtaking delusion, but devoid of any foundation of realism, as I've lived in this city for over 60 years! But don't be too hard on me. What else could one expect from the city that was branded way back in 1838 as: "The Sleeping City"?

A W NICHOLSON,

Tupsley, Hereford.