IF I may reply to the article 'Fury at the lack of action over traffic chaos' January 23.

Car ownership in the past 20 to 30 years has soared — two even three car families are almost the norm.

The morning rush hour is now the morning rush two hours and the queues getting longer.

Standing traffic produces more and more pollution with all the ill health it brings.

Urban and motorway traffic jams will cost the UK economy £10s of millions.

All this has been well known to the government, all governments, yet what long-term transport plans have there ever been?

Personally, I can only think of HS2. This £60 billion train line will ease pressure on the M1/M6 and knock 20 minutes of the travel time from London to Birmingham, but will be a colossal waste of taxpayers money, money that could be spent on transport for all parts of the country especially the north.

So far, not so good. Local councils have their part to play. In response to the original complaint, Cllrs Peel and Chadwick, cabinet members environment and highways/transport respectively, seem to say that traffic management (roundabouts) and building more roads is the answer.

Not very imaginative or helpful.

Public transport has a huge part to play in helping us get around.

The council should demand that private companies explain why they cancel services leaving passengers waiting at the bus stop.

Highlight to the general public that private companies are reducing frequency to boost their profits.

I have contacted First Bus asking for details of the number of cancellations, the reply I received being that the information is there but not for public inspection. What kind of reply is that?

It is not good enough for local councillors to just point the finger and say "Oh, it's all the government's fault, all these austerity cuts". That is an abdication and a cop-out.

My suggestion, for what its worth. Short term — encourage car sharing and flexi work hours but long term, to commit public transport to public ownership and re-invest profits (not into off-shore tax havens).

Private companies operating public transport has been a disaster which has only benefited shareholders and not the travelling public it is there to serve.

Eric Hyland

Harwood