People do try to help each other

IT IS true that the members of Preanes Green are very disappointed that First and the council have not yet been able to show some compassion to its residents in re-installing a bus through our estate.

First say: "It would not be safe to operate the large Number 7 bus through the key Tamar Road area" but this would not have been suggested to them as a solution if the large buses had not already been used on the old Number 3 route through Preanes Green and the Tamar Road area on many occasions when the smaller bus was not available to be in service.

We are proud to be members of Preanes Green, an estate where people do try to help each other. Councillor Elfan Ap Rees has commented: "that if the 376 people named in the petition used the bus on a regular basis then it might have been higher up the priorities".

How sad that an essential mode of transport, such as a bus, has to be one of his 'priorities' when it concerns residents and trying to prevent isolation for the older people.

There are many people on our estate who wanted to sign the petition because they were concerned that their neighbours and elderly or disabled relatives and friends, who are reliant on public transport, would have no means of going out anywhere. They didn't just sign for their own personal needs but were happy to show their support for other less fortunate residents, in keeping the bus route through Preanes Green.

The Government have issued free bus passes to the elderly to encourage them to go out but these are valueless without buses.

We are led to believe that after all the alterations with the buses and routes, that Preanes Green is the only route that has not yet been supplied with a satisfactory alternative, although we do have a Number 3 First Bus Service, through the estate on an hourly basis from late in the evening each day and all day on Sundays subsided by the council.

These are of no use to anyone wishing to attend the doctors or hospital or doing the shopping.

Other routes which First did not wish to continue as a service have had tenders accepted from other bus companies and it is grossly unfair that the only people penalised are from Preanes Green.

If other parts of Weston are catered for then we should be shown the same consideration. After all, we are all ratepayers.

With the help of our councillors, Ken Lacy and MP John Penrose, we have the hope that North Somerset Council will find the funding to re-instate the local bus through Preanes Green or with hope in our hearts, perhaps First Bus could consider anther alternative to give us a bus through Preanes Green into Weston.

MRS BARBARA SLINGER

Dartmouth Close, Worle