I AM moved to write in response to Allan Ramsay's letter in Monday's Bolton Evening News blaming Isambard Kingdom Brunel for "advancing Britain to a grinding halt" (December 2).

Unfortunately, I didn't see the programme in question, or Mr Clarkson's "Top Gear", so I cannot comment on these. But being an admirer of Brunel, I would like to say a few words in his defence.

He was probably one of the greatest engineers of the Industrial Revolution, and many of his works survive to this day, such as his Royal Albert Bridge across the Tamar, and the Great Western Railway from London to Bristol, and, of course, steam ships such as the Great Britain.

As many of his projects dealt with rail and sea travel (yes, I know smelly old steam), I still don't think he can be blamed for the amount of pollution and congestion that is around today. Surely the present and previous governments are responsible, with their lack of foresight into the travel needs of the population. Or have they just ignored them?

If only the rail and bus networks were running properly and people had confidence that the bus/train would arrive to get them to work on time (or, in some cases, even arrive), not only would the ills that Brunel is being accused of lessen, perhaps even travel stress levels might lower. I speak from experience here -- you try catching the 563 bus to and from Edgworth. But that's another story!

So, Mr Ramsay, leave IKB alone. If you want to blame somebody for the congestion, gridlock and pollution, blame Mr Two Jags (John Prescott) and his friends!

After all, they are in a position to do something about it (and the answer is not building more and more roads) -- just give people the chance of a good public transport system and restore their confidence in it by making it cheap, attractive and reliable.

Only don't tell Mr Gordon Brown, or he might lose some of his taxes on all those cars and fuel. Oh dear, need I say more?

Veronica Hinton

Chapeltown Road

Bromley Cross

Bolton