WHAT a strange world we live in. Not so long ago we were all up in arms about the affect of pollution from car exhausts on our children. We have reduced the lead content but our cars seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Do we really need a V6 or V8 four-wheel drive to take children perhaps only 100 yards to school?

I suspect the only time these vehicles go off-road is when they are parked on the pavement. Some councils have spent a lot of time and taxpayers' money making safer routes to schools. It is noticeable that when schools are on holiday, traffic congestion and pollution reduces drastically, so the argument that mum is dashing to work is difficult to understand.

Perhaps the idea of congestion charging is a touch of big brother but will we ever learn to make better use of our cars without such legislation?

STEVE PASCALL

Marlborough