AS a part-time member of staff at Businfo and therefore shortly to be made redundant by its closure, I feel I cannot allow Coun Sunderland's ill-informed letter to go unchallenged (March 15).

Calls to Businfo on 01904 551400 are dealt with in York from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 8am to 2pm on Sunday.

The regional travel centre in Hull referred to deals only with calls to the Traveline number (a national and more expensive 0870 number) on Sunday afternoon and evening, and also if we are too busy to take them.

We are very busy dealing with calls from York residents about York travel, making full use of our local knowledge of York. Will staff in Hull be able to offer a comparable service?

A "special trip" does not have to be made for timetables at present.

A telephone call or email to us will result in any timetable requested being sent out immediately. This service is unlikely to be available from Hull.

Does Coun Sunderland really think that libraries and post offices throughout the city will have a comprehensive, up-to-date stock of all local bus and rail operators' timetables?

At Businfo we have been overwhelmed by the support of local people, especially elderly people, none of whom can believe City of York Council is really going to close down Businfo in order to save a very, very small amount of money, if indeed any money at all.

Opposition parties in York should take heart from the closure of Businfo.

This foolish and ill-considered political act will surely be remembered as one hard and abiding nail in the coffin of the Liberal Democrat administration in York.

Richard Connell-Smith,

Coggan Way,

Bishopthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, March 17, 2006