AS A Green, I wouldn't be at all surprised if fuel protests break out again.

Successive governments have created a situation where, for many people, there is no choice but to use fossil-fuel driven cars.

Alternatives exist, but the Government will not give them a fair chance.

Bio-diesel is produced using vegetable oil. Widespread use would reduce our dependence on the Middle East (good for world peace), and cut our carbon emissions. It would also be good for local farmers.

The only reason that the UK isn't producing a lot more bio-diesel is that Gordon Brown insists on taxing it harshly, so that it costs the same as fossil fuel from Saudi Arabia. It is wrong for the Government to tax people when they do the right thing for the environment and for Britain.

However, as well as moving to greener fuels, we also need to move away from dependence on car use. This means much better funded public transport, as well as ensuring communities have decent local amenities, so that people don't need to jump in the car every time they want to do something.

Moving to more local food production would also reduce the amount of traffic on our roads.

Mark Hill,

Euro-election candidate,

Yorkshire Green Party,

Reginald Grove,

York.

Updated: 11:05 Monday, June 07, 2004