Concern over bus service
I am writing in reply to the article in this week’s Courier about First Bus telling us that they have now added different routes and journeys to their services to make travel better for us all.
I am writing to disagree with this. In the last paragraphs it mentions that the 20/X20 from Boghall is being replaced by a better way of travel.
These buses are half full by the time we reach Uphall and totally full from Broxburn yet they say they don’t make money. Instead there is now a 29 from Falkirk (surely the revenue will go to Falkirk and not Livingston) then a 21 and 22 from Broxburn. Or those in Boghall can get a 27/28 to Edinburgh. This is all well and ok during the day but does not allow us to get to work in time. At the moment I leave for the 6.28am and arrive in time for my work at 7.30am.
Coming home I get a bus around 4 and home at 5, if I get away on time. From the 8th May I will either need to leave the house at 5.30am for a 28 to get into Edinburgh for 7.30am.
Coming home would be the same two hour journey. Others coming from Armadale will need to get the first 29 at 6.40 ish, get into Broxburn around 7.15 and hopefully catch the 21 at 7.19 to get them into Edinburgh around 8am, if the buses run to time.
Most of these folk need to be at work for 7.30am therefore will miss start of work and other bus connections. There is no earlier bus for them to get.
Coming back this way, if you miss the 29 at Broxburn you will need to wait anywhere between 40 mins to an hour for the next bus. If you live in Blackridge you need three buses and have no chance of being in Edinburgh for 7.30am.
No consultation was taken, no meetings etc and a poster only went up on the bus this morning but not giving a lot of details. If you don’t have internet you are stumped.
Scammailwarning I am writing to let you and your readers know about another major initiative that Royal Mail has launched to protect consumers from scam mail.
Scam mail involves professional fraudsters sending, often convincing, letters that are designed to trick people out of money or other valuables.
Scam mail can include bogus competitions and fake prize draws encouraging people to buy products to qualify for a prize which does not exist.
Last November, Royal Mail launched an industry-wide code of practice in conjunction with National Trading Standards, to crack down on scam mail. Since then, Royal Mail – supported by the National Trading Standards Scams Team – has successfully stopped more than 700,000 scam items from reaching its customers.
Royal Mail has also started to proactively contact households it believes are receiving high volumes of scam mail.
The latest anti-scam initiative will initially focus on the most-impacted customers.
Under the scheme, Royal Mail will block and impound suspected scam mail at its major distribution centres before it reaches the customer’s letterbox.
Legitimate business and personal mail will continue to be delivered to customers as normal.
Impacted customers will be able to contact a dedicated Royal Mail helpline at 0800 085 8003, for information if they have any concerns.
They can also arrange a home visit from Royal Mail staff. We are also relying on local communities to play a role in defeating the scammers. We are supporting Friends Against Scams, a National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team initiative, which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to take a stand.
The organisation provides lots of helpful guidance and advice. If readers have any concerns about neighbours, friends or family, we would ask them to visit the Friends Against Scams website www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/.
This action could make all the difference in protecting people in our communities from these criminals, and defeating the scammers for good. Thank you for our support in helping to keep vulnerable customers safe.