A CRAMPTON (Letters, 17 November 17) raised a number of important issues, not least that of affordable housing for locals (I am one of those who cannot afford to buy in my native Westcountry); but here I want simply to respond to the point about bio-fuel. Your readers may be interested to know that bio-fuel is, in fact, available at two or three places in Devon. This fuel, which is made from recycled vegetable fat, is far more environmentally-friendly than fossil fuel derivatives and, as long as we as a nation keep eating fish and chips, perpetually sustainable! Most modern diesel engines will run on it without adjustment (though a heat exchanger is required in the winter). You can mix it with ordinary diesel; it is legal (Plymouth BioFuels Ltd, the company from whom I buy it, pay duty on it and pass that on to the customer). It is also about 10p a litre cheaper than diesel. My experience, and that of friends who use it, suggests that engine performance is not normally compromised. Clearly the best thing we can all do for the environment is simply to cut back on all the energy we use: even to reduce our individual consumption/output by 10% would make a significant difference to the planet. But bio-fuel offers a cleaner and renewable alternative to fossil fuels, which has to be a good thing. Roselle Angwin, Bere Ferrers
