EVERY single tax is unfair to some section of the community. Concerning the ridiculously high fuel tax, it needs subsidising by a few new taxes. These will be unpopular too.

Many years ago I used to cause the usual traffic chaos pulling a caravan many thousands of miles at sometimes near tortoise speed. The tax on it - nil!

A caravan is a luxury, not a necessity. How about £52 a year? A pound a week is hardly punitive, it's a start.

There must be dozens of other subjects worthy of thought that won't make people scream too loud as long as the Government play fair and take the tax off the fuel. At the moment its like giving champagne to an elephant, ludicrous.

Stuart Sykes,

Blue Moon Trading,

Goodramgate, York.

...After the last chaotic week, when unelected, self-styled champions of this car-loving country almost brought it to its knees, I wonder how the reported "80 per cent majority in favour" was actually estimated.

If it was purely on a survey of car-owners and users then I don't think it was a true reflection of how people felt.

I believe there was much anger and frustration over an aggressive minority being able to wreak such havoc on the public services, and on the lives of many ordinary people who needed to get around freely to perform necessary and vital activities.

"Necessary and vital" is the operative phrase here, because travelling around on the few occasions we considered unavoidable, journeys were a breeze; hardly any traffic, less pollution, no hold-ups and far more relaxed driving generally.

I have never voted Labour, but I would congratulate Tony Blair on his refusal to give in to what is, after all, a minority of people all too ready and willing to show muscle and demonstrate how good they are at causing hardship to everybody.

It is, on a much larger scale, the good sense displayed when a mother at the supermarket refuses to give in to a child's tantrums and demands for sweets.

Blackmail such as that demonstrated recently should never, ever succeed.

Of course, William Hague and Charles Kennedy will milk the situation for all it's worth, but I would much rather have a democratically-elected Government which has the courage to stand up to aggression and blackmail.

Heather Causnett,

Escrick Park Gardens,

Escrick, York.

...IF the Government is serious about easing road congestion and reducing poisonous exhaust fume emissions, it would move to provide a fast, frequent, reliable and low-cost or free bus service for everybody.

If people can make local journeys as fast or faster than by car, at lower cost, many might choose public transport.

As for ministers who go everywhere by car, then lecture us about pollution and congestion, they need to learn that do as I do is always better than do as I say.

Robert Taylor,

Albemarle Road,

York.