Climate shift means end of the road for cars and more investment in public transport – Yorkshire Post letters

DAN Jarvis’s comments on Northern transport (The Yorkshire Post, March 12) are good ones. There does need to be more investment and it should be aimed at creating a sustainable transport network for a more inclusive society – especially by an emphasis on local transport, such as the bus service, and active travel.

Dan Jarvis: Investment in transport is key to North’s future

Yet he seems to miss one of the most radical changes we need. That is a shift in investment to rail and other public transport and away from roads. Very little expansion in the road network can any longer be justified. All the evidence shows that any significant increase in road miles will be incompatible with our commitments on climate change.

Shortly before finalising its Strategic Transport Plan, Transport for the North (TfN) finally accepted calls from campaigners to ensure the total extent of its projects will be in line with climate policy.

We will continue to press this body to honour this. New roads will only lead to more traffic and congestion. If TfN wants greater connectivity, it must ensure proper investment in the railways again.

From: Ian Richardson, Railway Street, Beverley.

PERHAPS nothing should surprise us any more concerning the political farce of the Brexit process. Chief amongst the clowns must indisputably be Chris Grayling. Not content with having to compensate Eurotunnel with over £30m, his hapless department now runs the risk of losing another £56m to refund ferry operators.

Just think what this money could have done to boost the woeful state of transport across Yorkshire. A personal wish-list would include a tram network for Leeds, reopening the York to Beverley railway line and making bus travel free for all children and students. Without Mr Grayling’s propensity to waste money, we could have all these things and more.

Why has faith divided us?

From: Arthur Quarmby, Mill Moor Road, Meltham