The market town of Buxton comes out on top

SIR – Alston in Cumbria (pictured snowbound in your photograph on December 27) is not the “joint highest” market town in England.

In fact Buxton in Derbyshire is England’s highest market town at 1,030 feet above sea level, with Alston being the second-highest at 970 feet.

Philip Barton

Treasurer, Buxton Markets Community Interest Company

Buxton, Derbyshire

SIR – The ancient abbey town of Sherborne has retained its character by preserving the historic town centre.

We are now told that the extensive West End, with 1,800 registered voters, is to lose its only bus service, leaving residents with no link to the shops, railway and medical centres.

The fundamental cause is the flawed concessionary fares scheme. This was originally established with a firm promise that it would be fully funded by central government. The scheme is now underfunded and, since local authorities have no money to make up the shortfall, the consequences are dumped on the bus operators.

The Government must either honour the promise of full funding, or allow local autonomy so that the responsible authorities can adjust the scheme to meet local needs. Otherwise bus services outside the big cities will collapse.

Mike Keatinge

Sherborne, Dorset