Letters of the week, July 12
What got you talking this week
Rough crossing
The people moaning about the toll system and charges at the Dartford Crossing (“Free ride”, Points, last week) should try living or working near the Severn Bridge (pictured above). How do you fancy paying £6.50 [against £2.50 for Dartford] for a car each time? This is a real cash cow!
John Mather, Newport
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Continental rift
Nigel Ellis should not resent paying to use continental roads while “foreign drivers” use ours free (“Foreign exchange”, Points, last week). As an occasional user he should spare a thought for continental residents, for whom péage is a regular part of life.
JP Dias, Lindfield, West Sussex
Sharing my pain
For those of us who like cars and driving, car-sharing is abhorrent (“How many drivers can fit into a Mini? Hundreds”, last week). I and many others choose and buy cars we will enjoy driving. Long may our right to choose remain.
Bob Bull, Portishead, Somerset
Future shock
If Richard Branson really believes that all cars will be electric within two decades, then he should be building power stations (“I tell you, in 20 years all cars will be electric”, last week). It is impossible to charge any significant number of cars with the paucity of power stations we have — electric cars in the UK have no future.
Paul Rylance, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne
In the clouds
Those tempted by Branson’s gamble on the imminent demise of the internal combustion engine would be advised to have a look at his long record of hopelessly overoptimistic predictions for his Virgin Galactic spaceship.
Mike McCrindell, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Dating disaster
Emma Smith may well be kicking herself for not specifying the prize for her 20-year wager with Branson, but she made an even more basic error than that. She forgot to get him to date it.
Stuart Thompson, Shamley Green, Surrey
Stranding thieves
My first car was a 1960 Ford Prefect 107e. It had a button on the fuel line that could be pressed to cut off fuel (“It’s the latest Rangie anti-theft device . . . they call it ‘a key’”, News, June 28). The car could be opened and started with virtually any key but the miscreant would travel less than 100 yards.
Rob Anderson, Whitehaven, Cumbria
