THE residents of Southampton continue to breath polluted air while their elected representatives continue to argue with each other.

We deserve better than this.

Neither the scheme put forward by Labour, which proposes to exclude private cars from charges, nor the Conservative proposals for no charges at all but better public transport stand any chance at all of achieving the desired result.

All motor vehicles pollute our environment to a greater or lesser degree and all should be charged to enter the city, with certain obvious exceptions such as emergency and disability vehicles.

The Conservatives are right that public transport should be promoted but even the most up-to-date buses are not pollution-free and fall well behind walking and cycling in their potential to impact positively on air quality.

As for electric cars, the council is deluding itself and the public if it thinks this is the answer to the air quality problem. The excellent letter in last week's Echo pointed out some of the environmental and humanitarian consequences that would follow a wide-scale switch to these vehicles.

In addition, I have yet to hear a convincing argument as to how all the extra electricity required would be obtained without burning more polluting fossil fuel. I trust the Echo will take on board these issues and cease referring to electric cars as "green".

Most journeys around the city are less than five miles, and all fit and healthy adults should be able to undertake such journeys by foot or bicycle.

Using a private motor vehicle should always be the last resort, when travelling by some less polluting form of transport, whether that be bus, train, bicycle or on foot, is not possible.

Across Europe, cities that have taken radical action to reduce the number of private motor vehicles in their centres have become more attractive and pleasant places to live, to work and to visit and business and trade has flourished.

Lindsi Bluemel

Bitterne Park