DAVE Finch argues (Letters, January 8) that by-passes do not solve congestion, citing the Bewdley by-pass as a failure.

A logical extension of his argument would be that closure of the by-pass, thus re-routing through-traffic back through the middle of Bewdley, would not be harmful. Those of us who remember streams of goods vehicles grinding up Welch Gate and the tail-backs into Kidderminster might think that the by-pass was doing quite a good job.

The reasons why traffic congestion comes back are consequences of an entire way of life based on personal mobility - a way of life developed over 50 years and not reversible in the short term.

Levying daily fines on car users, as has been done in London, is a very effective way of clearing the roads for the benefit of the better-off who can afford to pay.

The rest can cope by walking or using the public transport which, although unpleasant and expensive, does actually exist in London.

In rural areas where distances are too long to walk and public transport is near non-existent this "solution" would be to the gross detriment of most of the population.

Most of us will put up with the congestion and the pollution, until someone comes up with a solution which doesn't cause more problems than it solves.

STEVE ORTON

St John's Avenue,

Kidderminster