FURTHER proof, as if it were needed, of the strange "Alice in Wonderland" world that City of York councillors inhabit lies in their support of the money-wasting fiasco that has been the launch of the ftr (The Press, May 17).

Hopefully, the controversy over this farce might make people question the council's continued financial support for a private company to compromise the quality of life and health of residents living along bus routes by forcing ever larger vehicles on to the roads.

After the "teething problems" created by the bad publicity from people such as the Green Lane residents have been ignored and overcome, these same people may then face "breathing problems" from the incessant running of polluting ftrs.

Other councils have been aware of these problems for some time. Croydon council last year launched a blitz on drivers with engines idling at the roadside.

Top of the pollution attendant's list - buses.

Indeed, a recent report from Prof Knox (Birmingham University) stated that children could be up to 12 times more likely to die from cancer if they live near a bus or coach station.

Why? Because of the levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate omissions from the diesel engines.

I look forward to a council member brave enough to stand up and say that the council policy since 2001 of encouraging HGV buses has been wrong and that the way forward is smaller, environmentally-friendly and resident-friendly vehicles.

Obviously, more and smaller buses would require more drivers, but the increased wage bill would hardly dent the First Group plc's £176.4 million profit earned last year.

M Warters,

Yew Tree Mews,

Osbaldwick, York.

I WAS a regular user of the Number 4 bus route and used the bus to travel from Thanet Road to the railway station. I need to catch a train for work at 7.35am.

Since the introduction of the ftr, I have missed my train on a number of occasions through buses either not turning up at all or arriving late. I no longer use the bus because the service is so unreliable.

It is wrong to say that critics of the ftr have never even tried the vehicle, because most clearly have. It is interesting to note that bus conductors had to be put on these vehicles while they tried to sort out their ticketing problems. The bus company is blaming the passengers for its own failings.

My advice to Leeds and Coventry is to make sure that the ftr is not introduced to their cities.

Peter Ashton,

Kingsway West,

Acomb, York.

I SEE from your Diary piece on tourists and the ftr bus (The Press, May 18) that Coun Steve Galloway jokes that he may be opening a tourist information centre in Chapelfields.

Is this the same Coun Galloway and same leader of the same Lib Dems that decided in the recent council budget to close the bus information centre in the town centre as an economy measure ?

Cllr Sandy Fraser (Labour),

Micklegate Ward,

Millfield Road,

York.

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, May 24, 2006