I'M very pleased that Geraldine Smith MP is prepared to support the Northern bypass. She deserves credit for her realism and political courage.

She will recall the recent letter to me from our colleague the Transport Minister Sally Keeble.

In that letter Sally clearly states that the government would be prepared to consider a major transport bid which linked the building of a bypass to a series of other traffic management measures to be implemented either before or at the same time as the opening of a new road.

Geraldine will also be aware of the excellent paper recently produced by Professor John Whitelegg which sets out a number of costed proposals to develop safe routes to schools, improve public transport and green commuter plans.

I think we could combine a bid for the Northern bypass with sustainable transport plans. It would be a really major bid but I believe that the money is available and believe too that this sort of proposal fits well with the government objectives and I utterly believe that it would transform the traffic situation, the biggest problem in our areas into a transport solution that others would envy.

I'm not sure whether I would describe my activities over the past few months as 'manoeuvres'. However I have been talking to a lot of people trying to learn about a transport strategy that would work, be achievable and in line with government policy.

There are many sides to this debate and I don't think that anyone is going to be able to realise every aspect of their most cherished ideas. However, I do think we can build a large coalition around a plan for a major programme of investment in sustainable transport measures developed both before and alongside a Northern bypass.

Geraldine's new initiative is most welcome and it comes at a crucial time when the County Council decision on the road has been delayed until next month. I hope that we can all move forward now.

Hilton Dawson MP