While Mr Bowd (Letters, October 22, ‘smoke-free zones vital’) enjoys his cup of coffee he should consider another source of smoke which passes him by - diesel vans, buses, lorries emitting nitrogen oxide into his lungs - instead of demonising taxi drivers and shop workers.

I seem to remember, many years ago, one of the reasons traffic flow was reversed in Lowther Street at Kendal was the effect of traffic fumes, which now affects many towns and cities in the United Kingdom.

Perhaps we should ban all diesel vehicles from town centres.

Steve Neighbour

Kendal