SIR - No one reading in last week’s Herald ('New effort to ease chaos at crossing', November 7) about the initiative to reduce the delays at the Kildwick level crossing could fail to agree that ‘chaos’ accurately describes what happens when the gates are down for prolonged periods (your report records that this can be as much as 50 minutes out of each hour).

One can have nothing but sympathy for anyone who has to use the crossing on a regular basis or in an emergency or lives or works in the vicinity.

It would appear from your report that an effective solution for the delays - building a bridge to replace the crossing - is unlikely on economic grounds and the alternative of exploring changes to the way the barriers operate would at best only mitigate the problem.

I note however that air pollution from the idling vehicles at the crossing may also be a cause for concern.

This could be addressed immediately and at little cost simply by urging motorists to turn off their engines while waiting.

The effectiveness of such a scheme would be enhanced if coupled with signs - also mentioned in your report - indicating how long the barriers will be down.

From an environmental point of view the initiative would bring the additional benefit of helping to achieve the Government’s target of zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Steve Wilton, Ash Grove, Skipton