David Bailey, North Lodge Close, Dawlish, writes:

I have read J Humphrey's letter in response to my case against the South Devon Link Road.

I certainly very much sympathise with J Humphrey having to breathe so much polluted air from so much traffic on the main road through Kingskerswell. Traffic pollution is responsible for so many health problems, including asthma which is on the rise due to traffic emissions.

There is also the noise aspect, which is also a serious issue.

However building the bypass is not the answer, as it will only transfer pollution and a degree of noise from one part of the village to another, so will not solve the problem overall. Furthermore, evidence has been shown that by building more roads, in the long run more traffic is created. It has also been envisaged that development will take place on the infill space created by the new road.

This will obviously generate more local traffic in the village with traffic levels returning to the status quo on the existing road, so the objective of the bypass to 'relieve traffic' will be defeated and at an enormous environmental cost.

The solution to traffic congestion requires long-term planning and forward thinking with the strong political will to encourage alternative travel modes to the private car.

A case in point would be the reopening of Kingskerwell Railway station, together with good integrated transport systems. Currently, rail travel within Devon and Cornwall is quite reasonably priced especially with a Devon and Cornwall Railcard which anybody can purchase at the cost of £10 a year.

Admittedly, this may not be enough to encourage the bulk of the local population out of their cars; the matter would need to go further. Bus fares also need to be addressed. Walking and cycling as local transport modes also need to be addressed much further.

Countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland have excellent integrated transport systems where car use is much less comparable to the UK. Let us take a leaf out of their books.THIS AND OTHER LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION