Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.

Dorset is one of the eight counties in England without a motorway.

Although this allows Dorset to remain a true part of the countryside, it creates a decrease in trade and increase in congestion, resulting in air pollution, which is a problem that cities face.

Having a motorway also increases the number of cars on the road, which would probably increase congestion.

Nevertheless, not having a motorway means that there are less expenses on the council for the building and maintenance, allowing this valuable money to be spent in, possibly, more import ways.

Furthermore, Dorset offers a vast biodiversity, and constructing motorways would destroy habitats and damage ecosystems.

However, the opportunities that motorways in Dorset could create should not be ignored. For one, our Jurassic Coast and historic towns would be more accessible to tourists who will economically improve the area.

An increase in tourists results in an increase in profits for businesses, resulting in those businesses to expand, providing more employment opportunities.

Additionally, produce of Dorset can easily be exported to other areas of the country, and even the world.

Dorset would also be in a good position to import products. Unlike other counties without a motorway, such as Cornwall, Dorset is more central and surrounded by four counties, with direct access to the north, east and west.

Overall, I think that the economic stresses Dorset could face, and also the environmental hazards that are possible, would overrule the benefits of having a motorway.

By James Sullivan