FIRST managing director Richard Eames's response to criticism of the withdrawal of the ten-ticket journey pass is unsurprising, but makes his company's decision no more palatable (Anger over bus ticket changes, The Press, October 5).

First's pricing structure effectively says: "Use the bus all the time or use it none of the time", and I regret that is what will now happen to former ten-ticket journey users.

A "commercial decision" has been taken to withdraw the ten-journey ticket after it had not the uptake First had envisaged.

Perhaps one reason for the low uptake was First's failure to publicise its availability, but there is no logic anyway in the argument as if it is true, it means more people are buying individual tickets, providing First with better profits.

It is expected that a commercial operation will take a commercial decision, but local residents who pay much higher fares with this company than with other local operators should not be expected to take this decision lying down.

However it is dressed up, like much else, it is an economic decision that serves to socially exclude the less well off.

Coun Dave Merrett, Tadcaster Road, York.