Bus service cut is a 'disgrace'

I FEEL great sympathy for Vilma Oakes (The Crow, April 10), for it is nothing short of a disgrace that the Mordens have lost another bus route. I fail to see, however, why the blame should be laid at the feet of Gordon Brown. Indeed, the culprits must sur

I FEEL great sympathy for Vilma Oakes (The Crow, April 10), for it is nothing short of a disgrace that the Mordens have lost another bus route.

I fail to see, however, why the blame should be laid at the feet of Gordon Brown. Indeed, the culprits must surely be the Conservative Party.

It was they who first deregulated bus services nationally in the 1980s.

Furthermore, Cambridgeshire County Council has a Conservative majority.

Perhaps people should bear this in mind at the forthcoming local elections and vote for a party that is prepared to protect and fight for local bus services?

DAVID BARRETT

The Green,

Steeple Morden

IF the object of the revised timetables for the No 90/91 bus was to improve the access to Royston- Ashwell station, why did Herts County Council time two of the five new buses to run within three minutes of the 202 service from Ashwell to Ashwell station?

Why did the county council introduce changes without prior consultation with county councillors, parish councils or bus users?

Why did they not even look at the train timetables to check connections?

Why did they not give notice of the changes and provide new timetables to the affected villages before April 1, or even to the county councillor concerned?

Why didn't they arrange locations for new bus stops on the several miles of the new route?

Why didn't they come to some arrangement with South Cambridgeshire District Council to provide the service for the Mordens before they cut the connection which has existed for 30 years?

Herts County Council has shown a total disregard of the principles of good planning and management of scarce financial resoures for public transport.

Is this typical of the way it manages the rest of its responsibilties?

JOAN D RIDLEY

High Street

Ashwell

THERE has been so much adverse publicity about local bus services that I am writing in praise of it. As a resident of Ashwell, I am happy that we have now got a new extended route to Royston.

I am a pensioner who cannot drive so the only way to see my family, who live in Royston, was to cadge a lift.

My only quibble is that not many people know about the new service that goes to and from Royston and Letchworth.

I regularly see the buses pass my home empty as there has been no publicity.

I am sure many pensioners with free bus passes would love to go to Letchworth on a through service.

YVONNE YOUNG (Mrs)

Ashwell