Sir, - The RTE Prime Time programme (October 29th) concerned itself with the present LUAS controversy. The programme served as a warning on the dangers of unquestioning acceptance of the present LUAS plan. Despite the pleasant shots of trams gliding unhindered through the centre of Zurich, a vista much promulgated by Mr Frank McDonald, it was apparent to this viewer that Zurich and Dublin are cities and people carved from vastly different stone. Ditto Hanover. I suspect that the Prime Time visit coincided with one of the LUAS fact-finding media events, so I would therefore have a box of SAXA to hand whilst viewing this objective programme. No mention whatever of the existence of any other alternative. There is an alternative, one which would be far more wideranging and beneficial to the entire population of Ireland. This alternative, known as LINK, is a sustainable and effective answer to Dublin's traffic and public transport problems. Unfortunately, the plan comes from a group that is outside the magic circle of individuals and groups who effectively control Dublin's traffic planning. Much of our present traffic problems stem from an unquestioning adoption of various plans which emanated from within this circle. It is now time to break the influence of this coven and I call on RTE to allow the LINK option to be debated alongside the existing "official" plans. However, the smell of fear now emanating from the LUAS camp, makes this hope a somewhat forlorn one indeed. - Yours, etc., Billy Fleming,
Tallaght, Dublin 24.