I AM writing to express concern about aspects of The Press Dual Them campaign.

It has to be noted that there is little evidence of a link between transport and economic growth. As recent research commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England highlights the fact that most highway schemes increase congestion, fail to provide economic benefits and lead to car-dependent developments as well as damaging the environment in every sense.

The growth of heavy lorry and van traffic has to be noted for it has an adverse impact on local economies, notably suppliers of goods being sourced on internet sites.

The Sustainable Development Commission in a 2011 report proposed a hierarchy for Smarter Travel which had four objectives: minimise demand, widen travel choices, improve efficiency and increase capacity only as a last resort.

The CPRE therefore calls on the Government to adopt such hierarchy as the basis for its transport policy and investment decisions, and focus on a new mobility investment strategy with the potential to widen travel choices for all.

The current Road Investment Strategy should focus explicitly on keeping roads in good repair and reducing their environmental impacts.

The result would be a more sustainable, efficient transport system, reducing reliance on cars, cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality.

There is not time or space to go into the valuable other transport measures to which governments allocate pocket money.

But the question has to be asked, how many electric bikes could be purchased for short-distance travellers at the price of a dual carriageway mile?

Ron Healey, North Yorkshire trustee, Campaign to Protect Rural England, York