Sir – Further to my letter (October 18) regarding an Oxford Rapid Transport System (ORTS). It is encouraging that others see the obvious benefits of such a scheme. Those sceptical of the feasibility of such a system should look at Istanbul, an old city with narrow and wide roadways popular with tourists, similar to Oxford.

Their modern air-conditioned trams use a hop on/off pre-paid card, the system is mostly single track with passing loops taking up less space and successfully moves large numbers of people around the city quietly and efficiently. ORTS should be a self-funding, not-for-profit, public service, computer controlled with access to the system similar to the Oyster card on London Underground, low running costs should be passed on in low fares to encourage use. The present Government is advocating upgrading and building new railways (HS2, electrifying the Western Railway) and I suggest would be sympathetic to an ORTS. Oxford planning authorities need to do some visionary thinking, the principle of pedestrianised spaces in cities is accepted but Oxford has not gone far enough, as it allows too many buses to choke the city centre, because at present there is no alternative to give access to the centre, a tram system would replace all buses entering the centre. I urge the authorities to commission an ORTS feasibility study with the remit to give the freedom of Oxford city back to all its inhabitants.

M. Palmer (Mr), Witney