Buses so important for many people

YOUR excellent article by Rhodri Clark is a reminder of what an important role the bus plays in everyday life for many people in Wales. It is important but neglected by the national press despite the fact that most journeys made by public transport are by bus. As a former manager in the rail industry, I welcome the investment in train services and stations, but a fully justified £220m for rail does not compare well with only £3.5m for bus services. Local councils have had their funding reduced to a level where support for bus services in Wales has fallen by 39% over the last seven years. Rhodri Clark refers to Wrexham not providing timetables or clean bus shelters. They are also recorded as providing no support for bus services

In my own county of Monmouthshire funding has dropped by 65% although support is still provided for many services. It appears that very little is left over for bus shelters as many could do with a bit of TLC even cleaning and maintenance. It is of no use running a good service as most bus companies providing commercial services do, if the bus stop, their shop window looks poor. It is also time that bus companies do more to reverse the decline in bus usage with advertising and provide their own timetable at bus stops. Any other retailer would provide this. Why not for a bus service?

Can I suggest that if MPs, AMs and councillors used a bus and saw for themselves the problems, bus services would not be in this apparent state of decline. Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised for using all his questions to the Prime Minister about buses.Why not, it was national bus week!

Howard Morris Rogiet, Caldicot