WHILE I did not have the pleasure of reading your letters page when a pensioner wrote to complain about a 140-year old railway outside her home, I rather enjoyed David Hodgson's sardonic response in last week's Citizen. I consider the complaint to be more 'MUM' - miserable unless moaning - than NIMBY.

Until fairly recently I lived on the Vale, just yards from a busy railway line. I loved that cosy feeling as the carriages rattled past my window through the blackness. I snuggled into my dressing gown, hugging the fire, happy to be going nowhere. The train was a friendly snake, winding its way through the countryside with a gentle, warming rattle. What a soothing, rhythmic sound.

I now live near Westgate and, while not completely devastated by it, I could cheerfully live without the 24-hour flow of traffic drumming in my ears.

Anyone interested in having Westgate removed can call at the address below - I have a petition ready!

Rosalind Murray,

Westgate.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.