My concerns go back beyond the present hassles with those at the Charles Street bridge, Forster Street and Kings Meadows.

Around the country and here at the top of the Southern outlet there are signs that tell the driver whether the speed of their vehicle is excessive. I don't know whether this is via radar or other means. If it is possible for the presence of vehicles to be detected at a distance then such techniques should be linked to traffic light operation. How many frustrating times have drivers waited at red lights for non-existent vehicles to pass across their road? This situation is particularly annoying at night when traffic is considerably less. Traffic lights are supposed to help traffic flow. More and more they seem to be doing the opposite. If we are to have limited roads and increasing numbers of vehicles then efficient traffic flow is essential.

Mike Adams, Swan Bay.

HERE we go again with scientists making outlandish claims that the recent find of a 66 million-year-old fish fossil is from a massive asteroid which slammed into the earth so violently that nearly all life on earth became extinct. They also claim it caused a magnitude-nine or 10 earthquake.

Well, have you noticed that the fossil photograph is indeed the perfect shape of a fish, complete with tail fin and scales?

I say, a fossil to be in that good of condition after the slam dunk of an earthquake-producing asteroid, (just a meagerly 66 million years ago) is certainly fishy alright; more like codswallop - myth busted.

Robert Lee, Summerhill.

TED Horlock (The Examiner, March 11) is right when he says: "As human beings, we should all be entitled to the same level of health care." I invite him to take a global view. We in Australia can make a big difference by using a small part of our rich resources to give a better life and future to the many talented and hard-working people who did not have the luck to be born in Australia. Good education and health lead to better growth and world peace.

Australia should stop cutting its aid budget. I hope people will go to listen to the views of the major parties at the Bass candidates forum on April 9.

Ros Lewis, Launceston.

IN The Examiner on Monday (April 8) what an absolutely outrageous and unbelievable statement from child services to tell this grandmother child A does not qualify for support but the other children do. The child who arrived drenched in his mother's blood is somehow less in need of protection food and clothing than B and C who were delivered to her by child protection services. Just who makes these unbelievable decisions whoever they are they are in the wrong job and would be better suited to the job of picking up papers in the mall or feeding chickens jobs that require no humanity.

Doreen Baker, West Launceston.

I wouldn't take too much notice of the federal budget, the Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who would have had substantial input, couldn't look after his own finances.

He didn't realise a family fare to Singapore worth $2700, hadn't been charged to his credit card by a firm that has dealings with the government.

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

BATTERY of the Nation has a great sound to it and Tas Hydro are obviously keen on the idea. We are lucky that we do have significant renewable energy sources, the main one being water. Let us not forget that many other parts of our existence on this planet, also depend highly on the same resource, water.

I used to teach science in schools and informing students about the numerous cycles that maintain our very existence was always emphasized.

I also believe in what I call the rubber band theory of life. You can stretch the rubber band in all directions at once to a certain extent, but if you stretch it too far in one direction, something has to give or the band breaks. Do not make the mistake many experts make, of looking at an issue with a myopic view, if you store water rather than let it run into streams, rivers and the sea, what changes are going to result?

We do not want to start a Tasmanian version of the Murray Darling problems by solving one problem and creating another.

Irrigation, necessary to allow agriculture in climatic regions that don't naturally support these crops, is already putting pressure on the environment. Experts, please do your homework and make sure we understand the big picture consequences of pumped energy before committing to this program. I am a great supporter of renewable energy and solar energy is one source that should be encouraged.

Jeff Jennings, Bridport.

WITH the federal election coming how about getting the future politicians and the resident pollies commit themselves to a new bridge across the Tamar to alleviate the traffic congestion in central Launceston. Also, the forgotten East Tamar bypass from St Leonards would also lighten the traffic numbers and probably link up with the new bridge crossing the Tamar at Newnham. If nothing is done shortly, we will become like Hobart seeing that it can take 20 to 30 minutes to get from McDonalds Invermay to the other side of town in the afternoon around school closing and 5pm.

Anthony Galvin, Mayfield.