IN response to your article 'Decision to axe bus defended' (February 14), I used to have a lot of time for Peter Edwards, commercial director of First York, but he has lost any credibility he had by his bizarre actions of late.

At the Acomb ward meeting last July he told us he was happy with the 16a bus and there were no plans to remove the service. Days later he and Terry Walker, from City of York Council, removed the 16a and 25 without warning or consultation. This is bad enough but the waffle Mr Edwards wrote in your paper is beyond belief. His words: "the 17 serves Acomb and Beckfield Lane link run by the 16a", is nonsense. Monday to Friday one No 17 bus a day goes along Beckfield Lane at 8.14am and one in the opposite direction at 5.14pm. This does not replace the 16a.

To get a direct bus from Beckfield Lane to Monks Cross involves a three-quarter mile walk to Boroughbridge Road to catch the hourly 17 service. Before next month's transport meeting I urge the Lib Dem transport spokeswoman to take this journey with an elderly person and walk three-quarters of a mile to the bus then return home carrying heavy shopping bags.

W M Moore,

Lochrin Place, York.

Updated: 09:16 Friday, February 25, 2005