The current crisis is challenging for all of us – uncertainty, anxiety and loss are common feelings which people have felt and expressed to me.

However, there are positives too which have resulted from our changed lives and our new routines.

The ‘daily exercise’ allowed by Government has given us a chance to experience our area without rushing off to the next job or meeting.

We’re incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful area.

Having a bit more time to value it first hand has been a real plus.

One issue which residents up and down the A419/417 dual carriageway have been concerned about over the last two decades is noise pollution from that road.

That noise has been rising year on year with the increase in traffic.

But now, with traffic cut by two thirds since lockdown, the situation has been transformed.

People in Preston, North and South Cerney and other parishes have commented on how much more peaceful life has become.

Whilst staying in permanent lockdown is not at all sustainable, surely we can find ways to make sure we don’t just regress back into a world that has bad impacts on people?

Highways England need to properly address the noise pollution from the dual carriageway whilst they fix the Missing Link at Birdlip.

The ‘new normal’ can be different to the ‘old normal’ – it’ll take effort and persistence to get there though.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

(County Councillor for Bourton and Northleach)