Sir, – In your leading article, Who will benefit? (D&S, Oct 31), you outline our post-war dilemma, seemingly crushed between the upper and nether millstones of Newcastle and Leeds.

I agree so much with the points you make, but this need not remain the case.

Historically, we have been at the eastern end of a cross-Pennine route reaching to the Cumbrian coast, as the constant protests about the state of the A66 confirm still survives. We need to plan for the renovation and rejuvenation of this route, with the benefits it will bring to South Durham and North Yorkshire.

This is not to belittle the value of the Wensleydale line, which could also benefit in the same way.

So how about TeVISA – Tees Valley Integrated Structure Association? Not another Quango to further drain our resources but a regular conference of all the local bodies involved, to integrate the renovation of the Tees Valley – from Stainmore Summit to the sea – with a full transport system.

Interested observers from the West side of the Pennines would be welcome – and don't leave out the tourism bodies who had the vision of bringing Le Grand Depart to Yorkshire.

We will only translate "We shall be" into "We have become" if we have a big vision for this area.

ADRIAN BULL

Guisborough.