A FEW weeks ago, you printed my letter to Councillor Ann Reid about concerns on over-60s and disabled free bus passes.

I must thank Councillor Reid for her reply. True to her word, on April 1, we could use our free travel.

Now an article featuring Councillor Reid (Rush For Free Bus Passes By York OAPs, May 3) highlights the success of free bus passes and tokens, so I have another question for Coun Reid.

She is correct in saying we have negotiated good deals with neighbouring authorities to travel across North Yorkshire and its boundaries. The take-up demands full information be available for people to understand the complex nature of our new-found freedom.

I know of only one place that, under the same roof, can supply any travel information you can throw at them.

I, of course, refer to the travel information office in George Hudson Street, York, which has helped up to 500 people a day with local information and which is about to be shut down.

I fail to understand how more than £1 million of our money can be wasted on roads for the ftr white elephant (pretty, but not practical) and something invaluable like the information office can be scrapped when costing just over £100,000 per annum.

However, my fears were unfounded once so perhaps Coun Reid can prove me wrong again by telling us that all information will be made available under one roof, or as is suggested we go to James Street for First, Selby for Arriva, Scarborough for East Yorkshire, Leeds for Coastliner and any telephone inquiries be diverted to Hull who will only supply basic information, not quote fares and certainly not post you timetables.

I will be delighted if our local transport guru proves me wrong yet again.

William Moore,

Lochrin Place, York.

Updated: 09:31 Tuesday, May 09, 2006