SIR — With regard to the letter from Mark Purchase (Your Letters April 22) concerning high bus fares charged for short local distances, I understand full well the implications here and the cutbacks being used as an excuse to raise bus fares and reduce services.
We, the passengers affected, did ask for an explanation from the county council, who had been subsidising this route, and were told that even if the buses were full, that would not cover the costs, so what are we to do?
At least the local route referred to in previous letters is still running, whereas ours to Taunton ceases from this week after many years.
I've been using a service from here for 22 years.
It is a blow for those of us who rely on the occasional visit to the county town because banking facilities and other commercial interests are disappearing locally.
If only a scheme could be envisaged whereby a once-monthly service to Taunton, serving the small villages which will now be affected, was available it would save a lot of worry and loss of independence to many older and isolated passengers.
To add insult to injury, the April issue of 'Your Somerset' boasts under bus subsidies: "Out of 250 bus services subsidised by the council, only 30 services will be affected with 15 withdrawn completely this year".
Your correspondent is quite correct. It does not encourage prospective passengers, or customers as they like to call us these days, to become green and use public transport rather than private cars.
Local operatives have an example to follow. If other counties can provide efficient, good value services and grow, why can't we?
Yes, we had our Council Tax frozen, but at what cost?
J Hand,
Haymans Cottage,
Roadwater.