PURCHASERS of early Model T Fords could have any colour as long as it was black.

Durham County Council’s licensing committee, in choosing white for taxis, seem to gone for the wrong colour. Shouldn’t it be “any colour as long as it is green”?

Green vehicles – zero or low emission electric or hybrid taxis such as the new Nissan Leaf – would seem to be the right choice for a World Heritage Site and a newly-restored city centre.

Instead of pursuing taxi drivers to undertake a white spray job, why not pursue a procurement process to help taxi companies buy green vehicles at a favourable price over the next five years?

If the county council helps in “greening” the taxi fleet, then it’s not unreasonable to require paintwork to be white.

David Miller, Durham