Sir, I would love to see the reaction to news that Stansted Airport was to close by 2008 (letters, December 19). For every distraught local couple worried about noise today there would be 50 bemoaning the loss of an employer and calling for government support for the decimated local working population.

House prices around Stansted have risen faster than a low-cost Boeing 737 on full power because pilots, engineers and cabin crew need to live near where they work.

As a former resident of Stansted Mountfitchet, I wish I had bought a house there.

There has been an airport at Stansted since before the 1960s. If you don’t like noise you are free to leave, making a huge tax-free profit on your home.

Kindest regards,
ANDY JONES,
(Airline pilot),
17 Sydenham Road North,
Cheltenham GL52 6ED.
December 19.

From Mr David Peart

Sir, Mr Neil Matthewson (letter, December 15) urges the Chancellor to end tax breaks for the aviation industry. Whilst aviation fuel is untaxed, passengers are taxed every time they fly, and I would be surprised if the rate is not increased in the near future.

The fuel used by ships is not taxed. I have not heard of anyone clamouring to tax ferries. Buses in the UK enjoy huge subsidies, including cheaper diesel.

Whilst most mainline trains are electric, diesel trains do not pay the same amount per litre for their fuel as a car driver; they use red (“farm”) diesel. The railways receive massive subsidies from taxpayers, many of whom rarely use trains.

The method of transport most of us use is heavily taxed. There is double taxation when one buys a car, duty plus VAT on fuel, annual road tax and, of course, taxes on insurance. All this gets us roads which are probably some of the worst in Europe.

Air travel will continue to expand and what we should encourage is the development of more efficient, cleaner and quieter aero engines. We are grossly overtaxed as it is.

Yours faithfully,
DAVID H. PEART,
The Old Parsonage,
The Green, Hurworth-on-Tees,
Co Durham DL2 2JA.
December 15.

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