Sir, - This month, due to structural problems with the parliament building, MEPs avoided the monthly trip to Strasbourg, a situation that pleased many.

Currently, European law obliges the parliament to meet in Strasbourg 12 times a year.

Historically, Strasbourg represents the reconciliation of France and Germany after the world wars of the last century.

I have been at the forefront of calls to scrap the two-venue European parliament and indeed in 2006, along with David Cameron, I was the first major UK party leader to sign the www.oneseat.eu petition aimed at removing the European Parliament from Strasbourg, which has now attracted over one million signatures.

There are strong financial and environmental reasons for ending this travelling circus - not least costs of £160m and 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

I strongly believe a decision must be made soon regarding the parliament's location and it should have one home - Brussels.

However, I would sound a warning note about abandoning Strasbourg completely. It would be unfair to completely abandon Strasbourg as this would have a serious detrimental effect on the economy of the city and affect many small businesses which may rely on the monthly influx of visitors. Imagine the dismay of the hoteliers.

Perhaps a compromise could be reached with, for example, NATO relocating to Strasbourg.

Whatever the final solution, it is clear that the European Parliament should have one seat - Brussels. There is no defence for the needless monetary and environmental expense that Strasbourg costs us all.

TIMOTHY KIRKHOPE Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Scotton, near Knaresborough.