WE are the proud owners of a little terraced cottage in Whitehall, Taunton, and have lived here for 25 years. It is a quiet and friendly little road.

Many have said they cannot believe that we live in a busy town. We awake in the morning to the sound of the dawn chorus, have an abundance of species of wildlife and butterflies to see, and life seems perfect for us.

Enter the Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR) plans. Our lives have been turned upside down. We have been told the NIDR will be constructed opposite our little haven.

We have had appalling treatment from Somerset County Council, having been dictated to as to the placement of the NIDR.

The new road will be constructed opposite our property. At present, we have a little wall with railings above and an abundance of shrubs and trees which make you feel you are in the countryside.

When this proposed road is built, the existing trees and shrubs will be no more and will be replaced by a four-metre-high wall and fence one metre away at the closest point. This leaves no room for trees for screening and wildlife.

We have tried to negotiate for the road to be moved back further but have been told by SCC that Network Rail says it will release no more land. The council refuses to use compulsory purchase in order to move the road.

The new road will be directly in line with our bedroom windows, will cause light pollution, poor air quality and obviously noise from traffic.

We are at our wits' end. We want somebody to understand our plight and to understand how this will affect our lives.

Steve and Heather Perry Whitehall Taunton