YOU feature action by the residents of Luss to control tourist traffic ("Villagers: ‘We’ll take the high road to direct action on tourist traffic’", The Herald, February 25).

In the many locations now being overwhelmed by tourism, it is going to need more direct action by the inhabitants to deal with the problem and/or force action by councils.

Edinburgh has been proposing a development plan for the city centre, which now features the factor of the "climate emergency". At a talk on this by the council leader, I raised the issue of ever-increasing events and festivals, and the substantial increases in tourism, with the town, streets, and amenities overwhelmed by visitors, and the travel, infrastructure, environment and fossil-fuel ramifications of this.

The response suggested that little was planned to control a worsening situation, since the substantial effect on jobs, business and income would be "political suicide" for any party taking the initiative on this.

If your house catches fire, it is usually regarded as an emergency, and you send for the fire brigade. You don’t stop to think that the water will cause some damage, and simply let the house burn down instead.

If we are going to deal with the environment issues, climate emergency, ever-increasing consumption, tourism overwhelming communities, expanding air travel and so on, we have to accept the economic consequences and the substantial moderation of our behaviour and lifestyle. It means emphasis on quality of life and environment, rather than standards of living.

There seems to be little real effective action by national and local government. Applying the label "climate emergency" has to become more than virtue signalling. There is urgent need for individuals and groups to instigate effective action, both to directly promote change, and force government and society into real, substantial and effective action.

Norman Dryden, Edinburgh EH9.