SIR -- You report that Oxford City Council is considering a ban on smoking in public places (Oxford Mail, March 31).

Most public places must be pubs, or to use a posh name, inns.

However, as a non-smoker, having stopped nearly 24 years ago, not for health but for financial reasons, I say that we are in more danger from traffic exuding gases from exhausts. I, and many others, are guilty of this.

Living in Didcot, I am also worried about fumes from the power station. It is a medical fact that if one's metabolism can handle it, so be it.

A member of my family died at 92 having smoked and drunk brandy.

So I say to your readers -- keep smoking or the price of my petrol will go up!

RAYMOND MURPHY

Wills Road

Didcot