If this debate was a film, the Environment minister would be the hero

The GMTA has used its war chest very effectively but has behaved in a manner which can only be described as dastardly. The Enough is Enough campaign emerged with perfect timing for the GMTA's purposes. They fired up the debate to incendiary levels and brandishing massaged facts and figures, they wound them up, pointed them and let them go.

Result: within the broader EIE (who, we shouldn't forget, have other concerns) the angrier elements make personal attacks on politicians, there is polarisation of opinion and a confused population who doesn't know what the truth is any more, weaker politicians start to collapse and members of the public become afraid to support the Environment plans for fear of vilification.

On the day of last month's debate, the news agenda was hijacked by the GMTA PR machine's precisely timed threat of making formal complaints against Barry Brehaut.

Hmm, looks a bit like a move by a... err commercial interest. It's all good for the plot though. What shall we expect next time?

The campaign by the GMTA is understandable but misguided. The motor industry has profited long enough, but now they are now acting out of paranoia – there is really no sign of the car disappearing any time soon.

It's wrong to allow them to ambush and divert public policy. They are erecting barriers to change and (NB economists) barriers to entry for potentially smaller, more agile businesses, who in future might wish to fulfil our transport needs. Also, it's not even clear that they will lose out. Their top-end customers won't blanch at the extra couple of percent on the price, while the rest of us will still be buying hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of cars over the next decade – the lion's share being width- and emission-tax free.

However, the GMTA has a right to expect a clear direction and an opportunity to plan – they must see the House acting with resolution in the interests of the people of Guernsey.

Those who say Guernsey doesn't have a traffic problem have obviously not met the elderly lady who cannot drive but finds the roads too intimidating to walk 200 yards from her house to St Martin's village.

She and others like her in our ageing population are imprisoned in their homes until someone offers them a lift – they become dependent and present new logistical and inclusion challenges to the government.

I think the majority of people in this island recognise that Guernsey needs to address the sheer, overwhelming weight of traffic and would like the island to rebuild its reputation as a peaceful, idyllic island – a safe environment for all and especially the more vulnerable: children and OAPs. A pleasant place, which incidentally will encourage business people, tourists and essential employees alike to come.

The reputation must be earned by genuine concern for all people of Guernsey – and by trying to regain something of the local-community feeling that those who have been here long enough can remember. We must encourage lower-impact behaviour – not all be tooling up for Carmageddon.

Unfortunately, an honest debate has been hampered by poor and misinformation, the anti-environment viewpoint seemingly getting an inordinate amount of airtime, to the extent that we have lost sight of the benefits to everyone (including the GMTA) of a clear strategy for the island.

If selfish and high-impact behaviour isn't discouraged or checked, our population becomes hardened to it, or even resentful of it.

GMTA: play fair and don't become the bad guys. Aim to become part of a better future for Guernsey.

Yvonne Burford: chin up – in this story, you're clearly the good guy. People will applaud you for your conviction and your efforts. The same goes for all of Environment, including the insightful Peter Harwood.

States of Guernsey: so far, the House has shown commendable resolution – a traffic strategy has been on the table since Pat Mellor's proposals in 2003. Persevere and guide the island towards a better place and show the GMTA a clear direction.

Give Yvonne and the crew a chance to show us their vision.

ROBERT GREGSON,

Address withheld.

Editor's footnote: Dave Beausire, president of the GMTA, responds: 'As president of the GMTA, I have headed this campaign with factual information representing 40 franchises responsible for 3,000-plus registrations a year and have not massaged the facts and figures, as your writer has indicated, and I will stand by that.

Accusing me of making a formal complaint against Barry Brehaut as a timed threat by the GMTA PR machine is strange, as your writer has no idea of what happened, and the fact that I received a full, written apology shows that I was not the instigator of this incident.

We have worked separately from the Enough is Enough campaign and I did not set the agenda on North Beach, neither did I speak, which clearly showed that the public there were more concerned with width and emission charges than the other taxes, which did not get aired on the day. We have not been against a transport strategy that is integrated – this one is not and we have supported our case with facts to outline its failings.

The author says the motor industry has profited long enough, but I make no apology for the motor trade wanting to make a profit as it employs more than 500 people and is responsible for 1.5% of GDP.

We have been given a fair share of media time to express our views, which have not been full of misinformation, and both Environment and EIE have been given their fair share also. I would be happy to be challenged on anything we have raised by your reader in person, but those against our views have been reluctant to come forward to hear our views throughout. Instead, they are the ones going about giving misleading information.'