A RECENT proposal for expanding Heathrow Airport by the addition of a third runway is misguided.

Further development of air travel, as illustrated by a proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow, will add not only to existing congestion but to additional noise and disturbance in the residential area of West London.

As much as possible a shift needs to be made from air travel to rail travel. In terms of European travel, high-speed railways could have a more important role. The Danish and Swedish governments recognised this in the provision of the Oresund Fixed Link across the Baltic between Denmark and Sweden, for both rail and road traffic. The outcome has been very beneficial.

With regard to air travel across the Atlantic, more use should be made of Prestwick Airport. It is seen as the safest airport in the UK, with landing and take-off across water. When Prestwick is provided with a high-speed rail line connecting to Edinburgh, Birmingham and London, the provision of safer and travel will be available.

We need an objective study of travel by air and railway in the UK as the basis for future development.

Alan Wightman,

Penifiler,

Portree.