THERE is a disparity between the Highways Agency's and rail industry's attitude to safety.

Silverlink, which runs trains from Birmingham to London, recently found some loose brake bolts and closed down its operation.

This decision is probably driven by the Government's enthusiasm for prosecuting rail directors and managers for alleged safety breaches.

At the same time the Highways Agency received tenders for closing the Bilbrough Gap above their budget and they refused to close the gap. In fact, they refused to do anything.

If the same standards are to be applied to road and rail managers and directors we have to ask are these individuals, who work at the Highways Agency and their political masters at the Department of Transport, prepared to defend themselves in court when the next accident occurs at Bilbrough?

If they are not, they must close the gap now on safety grounds.

David Johnson,

Main Street,

Upper Poppleton,

York.

Updated: 09:14 Saturday, October 11, 2003