COUN Simpson-Laing is right that York residents should know why the bus info centre is going to close (Letters, March 6).

In an ideal world there would be no need to make cuts but we had difficult decisions to make to balance the budget.

The Lib Dem group felt it was a top priority to protect the subsidised bus services that often provide an important lifeline to rural communities or allow people the means of accessing employment.

Coun Simpson-Laing can try to take the moral high ground but she has shown that she has no suggestions on how we could both keep the bus info centre and make the savings needed to deliver a balanced budget.

Labour did not propose a single budget amendment at the recent budget council, showing they have no viable alternative to Lib Dem plans.

Residents will still be able to phone the same number - 01904 551400 - to make enquiries which will go through to the regional travel centre. This is what already happens at evenings, weekends and busy periods.

Anyone accessing the service from home will see little change in the service offered.

Timetables and other information will be available via the internet and at a far wider range of locations than now. People will no longer need to make a special trip but will be able to pick up information when they are visiting their local library, post office or council office.

There will be changes in the way that this service is delivered but we do believe that, once new arrangements are finalised, people will be able to access the information that they need to use the bus network.

How easy it is for York's idea-free Labour opposition to criticise without having anything of substance to propose themselves.

Coun Sue Sunderland,

City of York Council,

Farmlands Road,

York.

Updated: 09:45 Wednesday, March 15, 2006