THE offensive emails from the Department of Transport describing key northern rail routes as ‘valueless’ that were revealed by Lisa Nandy MP showed the rotten culture at the heart of this department.

It is now widely recognised that this part of government is both incompetent and biased heavily against the North and Midlands.

Sadly the department is led politically by a Secretary of State who is also very weak.

How grateful we should be that in York we have an MP with integrity in Rachael Maskell.

As Shadow Minister for Transport, Rachael is working constantly to expose the serious situation that exists in transport in the country, and pointing out the need for root and branch change in both political leadership and the civil service to tackle it.

How bad does it have to be before Parliament listens?

Richard Clark,

Joseph Terry Grove, York

Dual York ring road to ease congestion

Further to the recent letter by Matthew Laverack (who I’d vote for) concerning the through road at the Nestlé site, and other concerns regarding poor air quality and congestion throughout the city: is it just me, or do we have the answer staring us in the face?

Dual the ring road. This will stop people wanting to cut through the city centre, instead of being stuck nose to tail on the A1237.

Result: fewer vehicles through the middle of York, and the dualled road running freely.

Happy days!

Julie Benton,

Osbaldwick Lane, York

We need cyclists to replace car drivers

WITH reference to the recent letter “Too Many Cyclists”, may I point out to the ‘name and address unknown’ writer the following:

Though there are cyclists who are inconsiderate - sometimes dangerously so - this also applies to other road users such as vehicle drivers and pedestrians.

In each group it is a minority which spoils it for all the many considerate, rule-abiding drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

To be knocked over by a bike is less likely to result in serious injury than a collision with a car, van, bus or lorry though, once again, I in no way condone bad traffic manners by anyone.

There should be more cyclists and less private vehicles.

Why? Cyclists do not pollute our air, are not noisy, and take up a fraction of the space on our congested streets.

Cycling is good exercise which helps to keep us healthy and away from over-stretched health services.

Rose Berl,

De Little Court,

Vine Street, York