IN the current debate about probable cuts to the local bus services, it is important to lay the blame where it lies – the deregulation and privatisation of the bus services by the Conservative government and its continuation by Labour.

Sixty per cent of services in Herefordshire remain “commercial”, with the council having no influence upon their timetabling or fares and with the profits going to the companies; profits that otherwise could support social bus services.

Until the recent introduction of the pensioners’ free travel, bus usage had fallen continuously throughout the country, except for London, the one area where bus regulation had never been abolished.

A co-ordinated public transport system is impossible under this failed market ideology, which in the case of the railways has also proved grossly inefficient.

The underestimated cost of pensioners’ free travel has been claimed by many councils as a particular problem.

Whereas this should involve no additional cost if the additional passengers are using existing services, it would be interesting to know if the additional financial burden on the taxpayer has arisen from the need to make additional payments to the operators of the “commercial” services?

STEPHEN DEARDEN, Bearcroft, Weobley.