Independent market research surveys show that over 70 per cent of the population prefer imperial to metric, with majorities in all age groups. However, from this month the government wants virtually everything to be sold in metric.
In contrast freedom of choice still exists in the USA, the world's largest and most successful economy. Although the use of metric has been legal since 1866, our customary measures continue to predominate - in fact local experiments with metric proved so unpopular they had to be reversed.
It is incredible that although widely used abroad, including in Europe, imperial measures stand to be made illegal in the UK where they originated.
The entire metrication process is legally unsound on several grounds. Until its doubtful legality is tested in a court of law, by defence of an honest trader facing prosecution, BWMA urges that both compliance and enforcement should be deferred.
If the authorities are confident that compulsory metrication is constitutionally as well as administratively proper, what have they to fear from test cases? Or do they realise that the media and public opinion will be outraged by the enforcement of these wholly unjust and unnecessary regulations.
VIVIAN LINACRE,
British Weights and Measures Association